Dr Annette Weber has been the EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa since July 2021. She is a leading expert on the Horn of Africa with more than 25 years of experience in the region advising German decision makers at the highest level. At the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) she was Senior Fellow in the Africa and Middle East Research Division since 2007, serving as Head of Department from 2012-2014. She was engaged in mediation in Sudan and Ethiopia as Senior Advisor for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (2019-2021) as well as the Berghof Foundation (2014- 2019). Before joining SWP, Annette Weber was Coordinator and Head of Office for the Ecumenical Network for the African Great Lakes region (2003-2006). From 1996-2003 she held several positions, including Head Researcher (Sudan, Somalia) with Amnesty International and Head of Mission for Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. EUSR Weber has also lectured as Professor in Conflict Studies, International Relations and African International Relations at various universities in Germany, Austria and Spain. From 2010-2012 she worked as a consultant in residence in Addis Ababa. She has published extensively on peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea arena. Annette Weber holds a PhD and MA in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin.