The Red Sea: A Yemeni–African Priority for Security and Cooperation

Yemen Monitor/ Special Writing:

Amid the ongoing conflicts in Yemen for more than a decade, Bab al-Mandab Strait remains one of the world’s most important waterways and a convergence point for regional and international interests. This strait, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and then the Indian Ocean, is not only a passageway for global trade but also a strategic lifeline for global energy security and a cornerstone of regional stability.

The mounting challenges in the Red Sea region require Yemen and the African littoral states with direct interests to consider practical and flexible frameworks of cooperation—ones that take into account current complexities and lay the foundation for a future strategic partnership.

Within this context, the “Bab al-Mandab Initiative for Yemeni National Security,” in cooperation with the African Center for Research and Studies, organized a virtual symposium via Zoom on August 19, titled: “Bab al-Mandab and Regional Security: Escalating Challenges and Opportunities for Yemeni–African Cooperation Amid Global Transformations.” A number of researchers from Yemen and Africa participated, discussing several themes. Among them was the fifth theme: “Yemeni–African Cooperation: Building Bridges of Security and Development”—a panel in which I had the honor of speaking.

Yemen Between War and International Interventions

Yemen is living through an exceptional situation that has rendered its institutions incapable of managing their security and military responsibilities due to the war and its consequences, along with international interventions—particularly by the U.S. and the UK. These interventions prevented the internationally recognized government from asserting control over Hudaidah Governorate on the Red Sea coast, when pressure was exerted to halt the military operation that had reached the city’s outskirts, under the pretext of avoiding a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Although the Stockholm Agreement was signed in December 2018—which was supposed to lead to the Houthis’ withdrawal from Hudaidah’s ports—the intended goal was never achieved. Over time, Washington and London found themselves compelled to engage in limited interventions to halt Houthi attacks on shipping lanes, yet these partial solutions did not fully resolve the crisis.

This reality makes any security approach that waits solely for Yemen’s stabilization ineffective. Regional security today demands urgent cooperation between both shores of the Red Sea—even if limited to the minimum: information-sharing, logistical support, or joint training. These small steps build bridges of trust and lay the groundwork for broader partnership in the future.

Short-Term Cooperation Opportunities

Cooperation between Yemen and nearby African countries like Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan can focus on two key, integrated levels:

• Joint Maritime Crisis Management: This involves sharing intelligence on rebel movements, smuggling networks, and piracy to form a first line of defense against potential threats.
• Training and Capacity Building Programs: Sending Yemeni naval personnel for training in countries like Kenya can bridge current skill gaps and establish a foundation for sustained collaboration.

Kenya is a pivotal country for security in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, though Yemen’s diplomatic representation there is currently limited to a chargé d’affaires. Elevating this to the level of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary would send a strong political message that Yemen still has the will to work and cooperate, and that it seeks to develop its bilateral and regional relationships even amidst war and division.

Towards a Long-Term Strategic Partnership

As Yemen regains political and security stability, cooperation can expand to include:

• Signing bilateral and multilateral security agreements to secure the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab through independent regional mechanisms.
• Implementing joint economic and logistical projects, such as linking Yemeni ports with those in Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, and Kenya, and creating free trade zones to boost economic development and protect regional security.
• Including Yemen in African organizations concerned with maritime passages, such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). This would give the cooperation a long-term institutional dimension, place Yemen at the heart of the regional decision-making system, and give it the ability to influence the future of the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.

Yemeni-African cooperation isn’t a political luxury that can be postponed until after the war; it’s an urgent necessity today. Taking simple steps like information exchange, joint training, and raising diplomatic representation can build trust and lay the groundwork for a larger partnership in the future.

The stability of Bab al-Mandab and the security of the Red Sea are inseparable from Yemen’s future, as well as the interests of Africa and the world. Investing in cooperation today is an investment in the security of tomorrow, ensuring this vital artery remains far from the horrors of conflict and opening doors to unignorable economic and security opportunities.