Environmental Security in National Security: the Case of the Horn of Africa

Abstract

With the complex dynamics of security in the Horn of Africa, there comes the challenge of addressing security issues in the region by both governments and non-governmental organizations. Environmental security is a highly debated concept within the dynamic of security in the Horn of Africa. The main objective is to highlight the link between the environment and national security in the Horn of Africa. This paper seeks to examine the practices of environmental security and the role they play in the attainment of national security and vice versa. The paper examines the issues that contribute to environmental insecurity in the Horn of Africa and their link to national security. Environmental degradation, climate change and global warming, environmental diplomacy and sustainable development are the main issues raised. These issues broadly create an atmosphere for security in the region which is both positive and negative. The attainment of national security in the region is dependent on environmental security seeing as natural resources form a great percentage of economies of countries in the Horn of Africa. The paper concludes that the question of sustainable security in the countries of the Horn of Africa can be tackled by addressing issues of environmental security. This is due to the fact that they comprise a large percentage of threats to the overall security in the Horn of Africa. The paper proposes a reexamination of national security policies in the context of the Horn of Africa and its surroundings.