The Horn of Africa is composed of countries including Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti. These countries continue to face complex political transitions influenced by historical grievances, governance deficits, protracted conflicts, and socio-economic fragility. Despite occasional opportunities for democratisation, political transitions in the region are frequently interrupted by authoritarian resurgence, the militarisation of politics, factionalism, external interventions, and communal violence. The African Union’s flagship initiative, Silencing the Guns, underscores the imperative to prevent violent conflicts, promote constitutional governance, and secure sustainable peace under the African Union (AU) Africa Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and Africa Governance Architecture (AGA). Yet, the Horn of Africa remains one of the most volatile sub-regions on the continent, where guns are far from silenced and transitions frequently regress into renewed violence or fragile political settlements. We explore the key challenges undermining political transitions in the Horn and propose for discussion strategic pathways for regional peace and stability, aligning with the AU’s Silencing the Guns objectives and Agenda 2063 vision.