Climate Crises and the Future of Conflicts in Africa: A Case Study of the Horn of Africa

Hamdy A. Hassan, Zayed University

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Rethinking Climate Change Security and Politics

Publication Date

8-19-2025

Abstract

The term “climate carnage” describes the growing concern about the security threat of climatic hazards. The United Nations Secretary-General first used this term when discussing the devastating floods in Pakistan in 2022. In 2007, the United Nations Security Council held its first-ever debate on climate change as a security issue. The armed conflicts in Darfur in the early 2000s, which followed a series of severe droughts, are considered the world's first climate-related conflict. Current discussions focus on the role of climate change in exacerbating conflict in Africa. However, recent studies question the direct connections between climate change and conflict. They suggest that these connections are much more nuanced and complex than previously thought or only indirectly influence conflict. A multifaceted approach is needed to address this issue, which includes gaining a deeper understanding of the African climate and increasing research conducted by African researchers. An important question remains: Will Africa face new wars due to the adversities and dangers of Nature, some of which may be caused by human actions? To answer this question, this chapter examines the relationship between climate change and conflict in the Horn of Africa. This region has a history of high levels of conflict and is particularly vulnerable to climate variability and natural disasters. The chapter aims to determine if these two phenomena are causally related and if climate change will worsen the prospects for stability in the Horn of Africa.

ISBN

[9789819648429, 9789819648436]

Publisher

Springer Nature Singapore

First Page

51

Last Page

74

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Al-Qaeda, Climate change, Conflict, Horn of Africa, Terrorism

Scopus ID

105023343788

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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