The Horn of Africa is once again in the spotlight, with growing tensions and talk of potential conflict, particularly between Ethiopia and Eritrea. What is really going on, and why does it matter?In this episode, the A4D Team takes a step back to explore the historical roots of the issue — examining Ethiopia’s past, how it lost access to the sea, and what that means today. The team sits down with Ethiopian geopolitical analyst, innovator and change strategist Yafet Mekonnen to unpack the history and its present-day implications.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:30) The History of Ethiopia & Eritrea

(07:05) Key Actors in the Ethiopia–Eritrea Conflict

(11:35) The Axis Powers in the Second World War

(18:10) The Algiers Agreement

(23:30) Italian Colonial Eritrea

(36:10) The Ankara Agreement

(43:05) Conclusion