Expansion of Houthis in Yemen threatens maritime security near Africa

The Houthis have taken control of several strategic coastal areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the port of Mokha, Mayyun Island, Zuqar Island, and the Hanish archipelago, as reported by The Conversation on September 28, 2026. These locations are near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

This strait, approximately 32 km wide, is vital for international maritime trade, with about 12% of global shipping passing through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. The African side of the strait, between Djibouti and Eritrea, remains outside Houthi control, but the group’s expansion on the Yemeni side brings armed threats closer to this crucial route.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed armed movement controlling much of Yemen since 2014, now have the capacity to deploy missiles, naval mines, and fast boats along a significant stretch of the eastern Red Sea coast. This situation raises strategic concerns for African neighbors Egypt, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea, as well as potential destabilization in Somalia and Sudan.

Experts warn that the dual threat of disruptions in both the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran also holds influence, could severely impact maritime security and global trade routes. The increased militarization of the Red Sea coast by a non-state actor supported by Iran marks a significant shift with broad geopolitical and economic implications for the African continent.