The other Horn of Africa

Such perceptions, however, are not only tragically one-sided; they are short-sighted and dangerous.Behind the stock images of a region trapped in chaos and despair, economies are growing, reform is increasingly embraced, and governance is improving. Moreover, with Yemen's government imploding across the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa's strategic significance for maritime oil transport has become a primary global security concern. In short, the Horn of Africa is too important to ignore or to misunderstand.

Of course, no one should gainsay the importance of combating famine, piracy, and terrorist groups like the radical and murderous Al-Shabaab. But, at the same time, we have seen my homeland, Somaliland, witness its third consecutive free, fair, and contested presidential election. And Ethiopia has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, with GDP up 10.9 percent year-on-year in 2010-2011, rivalling China and leading Africa.