The Unsettling Rise of Eritrea: A Power Play on the Global Stage Tensions in the Horn of Africa have simmered for years, but a small nation has emerged as a key player in the region's complex web of alliances and rivalries.
Eritrea, with its long standing autocratic ruler Isaias Afwerki at the helm, is quietly asserting its influence on the global shipping artery that traverses the Red Sea.
Eritrea's unique geography – bordered by Sudan to the northwest and Djibouti to the southeast – has made it a crucial chokepoint for international trade.