East African Horn

Trip.

Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The East African Horn or Horn of Africa (HOA), also referred to as the Somali Peninsula, is a vast peninsula and geopolitical region situated at the easternmost point of mainland Africa. It ranks as the fourth largest peninsula in the world and comprises Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the partially recognized state of Somaliland. In certain broader geopolitical contexts, parts or all of Kenya and Sudan are also included. The region holds considerable geopolitical and strategic significance due to its position along the southern boundary of the Red Sea, extending hundreds of kilometres into the Gulf of Aden, the Guardafui Channel, and the Indian Ocean. Additionally, it shares a maritime border with the Arabian Peninsula.

The Horn of Africa is commonly referred to simply as “the Horn,” while its inhabitants are sometimes colloquially called Horn Africans or Horners. Beyond its geographic designation, the term Horn Africans or Horners is also regarded as a coherent population label. Anthropologically, the expression “Horn Africans” is used in a stricter sense to describe the Cushitic and Ethio‑Semitic speaking peoples, who represent the core historical and demographic population of the Horn, rather than encompassing all groups residing within the peninsula’s borders. Regional scholarship on the Horn of Africa is primarily conducted within the disciplines of Ethiopian studies and Somali studies.