ABSTRACT
The previous case studies have illustrated how important it is to understand the international relations of armed groups. It would not be possible to appreciate the international relations of the entire Horn of Africa (HOA) region, to include Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan without taking into account armed groups. West Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East are regions where armed groups also play a major role. Moreover, interstate politics since 9/11 is incomprehensible without taking into account Al Qaeda’s role.
