By : Kadir Moustapha
BAHIR DAR, Ethiopia, Oct. 24 (Horndiplomat) — The Tana Forum’s Special Envoys’ Dialogue opened in Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar city on Friday, bringing together senior African and international diplomats to discuss growing security threats in the Red Sea, geopolitical rivalries and regional cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
The dialogue, held ahead of the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, focused on the region’s changing geopolitical landscape, maritime security and the growing involvement of foreign powers.
Opening the discussions, Redwan Huseen, Director General of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service, warned that increasing militarisation, competition among foreign powers and renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait posed serious challenges to regional stability.
According to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Redwan emphasised that protecting maritime trade routes required stronger cooperation between countries in the region and international partners.
He said Red Sea security could not be guaranteed by a small group of states acting alone and called for collective efforts to address emerging threats.
Redwan also highlighted Ethiopia’s dependence on Red Sea shipping routes, saying the country had a responsibility to safeguard its commercial trade and contribute to regional security.
The discussions continued under the theme “Regional Security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea,” with senior diplomats examining the implications of shifting regional alliances and international security challenges.
The panel, moderated by Paul-Simon Handy, Regional Director for East Africa and Representative to the African Union, brought together several prominent diplomatic figures.
