Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa (HOA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region located in the easternmost part of mainland Africa. It is the fourth largest peninsula in the world and is composed of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the partially recognised state of Somaliland. Although not common, some broader geopolitical definitions include parts or all of Kenya and Sudan. It has been described as a region of significant geopolitical and strategic importance, since it is situated along the southern boundary of the Red Sea; extending hundreds of kilometers into the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel, and Indian Ocean. It also shares a maritime border with the Arabian Peninsula.

The Horn of Africa commonly is referred to simply as "the Horn", while inhabitants are sometimes colloquially termed Horn Africans or Horners. The term Horn Africans or Horners, aside from its geographic context, is also considered a coherent population label. Anthropologically, the usage of 'Horn of Africans' is used in a more stricter sense that is reserved for the Cushitic and Ethio‑Semitic speaking peoples, who constitute the core historical and demographical population of the Horn, rather than all group living within the peninsula's borders. Regional studies on the Horn of Africa are carried out in the fields of Ethiopian studies and Somali studies.