Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping and International Response

 The recent bombing by the US and UK of Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to continuing Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea has increased tension in the region.

By way of background, the Council on Foreign Relations published on 5 January 2024 a piece titled "How Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea Threaten Global Shipping" by Noah Berman.

This provides a useful backdrop for the US and UK response to the Houthi attacks.

The Royal United Services Institute published on 10 January 2024 an analysis titled "Securing the Red Sea: How Can Houthi Maritime Strikes be Countered?" by Sam Cranny-Evans and Sidharth Kaushal.  

Published before the US and UK attacks on Houthi military targets in Yemen, this analysis looks at the targeting possibilities for Western partners to counter Houthi attacks, as well as the difficulties they would face in doing so.  

Chinese Arms Sales to Africa

The South China Morning Post published on 8 July 2018 an article titled "Everything You Need to Know about the Weapons China Sells to Africa" by Lee Jeong-ho.

While the title of the article significantly overstates its content, it does provide a useful update of the kinds of military equipment that China is selling to Africa. During the five year period 2013 to 2017, China's share of total African arms imports reached 17 percent, up from 8.6 percent in the previous five year period.