Houthi Advance Puts Africa’s Red Sea Economies at Risk

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized new territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the port of Mocha and the islands of Mayyun, Zuqar, and Hanish, tightening their grip on one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. Although African countries have not been directly affected, the advance raises the risk of a coordinated Iran-aligned squeeze on both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to cut off safe passage for global trade. Egypt faces the heaviest exposure through lost Suez Canal revenue, while Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea could experience rising shipping, insurance, energy, and food costs. For Somalia and Sudan, the situation could cause spillovers into their existing conflicts. The shift hands leverage to the Houthis and their Iranian backers, while African Red Sea states—which gain little upside—must weigh costly new security and diversification measures to protect trade routes underpinning their economies for years to come.