The Horn of Africa (HOA) is one of themost underdeveloped regions on earth. It is also one of themost conflict-ridden, insecure regions in the world. WhileAfrica as a whole has enjoyed a trend in recent years towardreduction and termination of many of its civil wars, the HOAis the exception to the rule. Indeed, the region'sprolonged armed conflicts have spread, engulfing severalneighboring states in warfare and partial state collapse.While aspects of the HOA case are obviously unique, andsensitivity to context and complexity must be privileged inboth analysis of and policy toward the Horn, theregion's crises are not so distinct that they precludeuseful comparative analysis. This paper considers conflictdynamics across the entire Horn of Africa, but devotesspecial attention to the case of Somalia which, because ofthe depth, length, and significance of its crisis, is asource of particular international concern. BecauseSomalia's crisis has been so protracted and has gonethrough several very distinct phases, it provides anopportunity to compare conflict dynamics in a single countryover time.