Avoiding Conflict in the Horn of Africa: U.S. Policy Toward Ethiopia and
Eritrea, commissioned by the Councils Center for Preventive Action and written by
Terrence Lyons, presents a full picture of what is going on in this neglected part of the
world and suggests what the United States needs to do to address the multiple challenges
to stability. The report calls for a dialogue with Ethiopia and Eritrea to resolve the border
conflict, something that would also contribute to stability in Somalia. The case for trying
is a good one, as the report makes clear that failure to resolve the Ethiopian-Eritrean
dispute could exacerbate governance, health, and humanitarian problems, and set back
U.S. efforts to fight terrorists, who are increasingly drawn to the area.