CARPO Podcasts
with Desirée Custers and Hubert Kinkoh
In this episode of the WASSAP podcast, hosts Desirée Custers and Hubert Kinkoh are joined by Hafsa Halawa, independent consultant and mediation expert, andvDr. Asnake Chanie, political scientist and Associate Fellow at CARPO, to discuss the growing interconnectedness between the Horn of Africa and the Gulf.
The conversation explores how geography, trade, migration, development cooperation, and regional politics have created new forms of interdependence between both regions. Hafsa and Asnake reflect on how Gulf engagement has transformed the development landscape of the Horn of Africa, the opportunities and challenges this presents for governance and political legitimacy, and the ways in which economic, political, and security interests increasingly overlap across the Red Sea.
A central focus of the episode is water diplomacy and the relationship between the Horn of Africa, Egypt, and the Gulf. The guests discuss the implications of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), questions of water governance, climate change, and food security, as well as the role of diplomacy in managing competing national interests.
They also reflect on Egypt's growing engagement in the Horn of Africa and whether a more integrated Red Sea regional order is beginning to emerge. Looking ahead, Hafsa and Asnake identify some of the key developments likely to shape Horn–Gulf relations over the coming decade, including maritime security, regional competition, and questions of access to the sea.
About the WASSAP podcast
WASSAP: The Africa - West Asia Podcast translates the findings of a three-year research project on West Asian (Gulf)–Sub-Saharan African relations into an accessible, engaging audio format. It explores how economic, political, cultural, religious, and security ties between selected Gulf countries and African partners are evolving and why these shifts matter globally, particularly for Europe.
Hosts of the podcast are Desirée Custers (project manager, CARPO) & Hubert Kinkoh (Senior Researcher, CARPO)
About the WASSAP project
The project explores the multi-dimensional and complex relations between selected Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran) and four Sub-Saharan countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia). It aims to deconstruct and analyze their economic networks, cultural and religious affiliations, and political and security cooperation. Based on empirical research, the project provides a better understanding of Gulf-African exchange, its challenges and opportunities, as well as its implications for Europe. The project is financed by the Robert Bosch Foundation and will run for three years.
Guests:
Hafsa Halawa – Independent Consultant and Mediation Expert
Dr. Asnake Chanie – Political Scientist and Associate Fellow, CARPO
Shownotes:
Big thanks for the support to
Editor: Marco Bussi
