East Africa Integration Faces Strain as Landlocked States Push for Ocean Access  

NAIROBI, Kenya - The integration of the East Africa region seems to be on a potential decline following the persistence of a number of landlocked countries, which are fighting for access to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

For several months, Somalia has been at loggerheads with Ethiopia, which is using the Somaliland region as the gateway for its quest for access to the sea, a move that led to widespread criticism from many countries on the continent.

Ethiopia had agreed to recognize Somaliland in exchange for 20 kilometers of the Red Sea for the construction of a port and a military base. However, the move was opposed by Somalia, leading to a timely intervention by Turkey.

And now, Uganda is joining the foray by demanding access to the Indian Ocean, a move which has rattled Kenya, its immediate neighbour. President Yoweri Museveni showed the intent in his latest remarks.

"Some of the countries have no access to the sea, not only for economic purposes but also for defence purposes. You are stuck. How do I export my products?" he questioned.

"That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya. This one stops, another comes. The railway and the pipeline – we discuss. But that ocean belongs to me. Because it is my ocean. I am entitled to that ocean. In the future, we are going to have wars."

However, President William Ruto's administration has since dismissed Museveni's controversial comments, with the government insisting that Museveni's sentiments were taken out of context.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, November 12, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei noted that Museveni's comments were metaphorical and should not be taken literally.

"President Yoweri Museveni was speaking metaphorically rather than to suggest that there was anything that was done in the manner in which he described it," said Sing'Oei.

Sing'Oei maintained that the Ugandan President was well aware of the international territorial laws. "I believe very much that he has a fairly great understanding with respect to the nature of our territory," the PS added.

Experts now say that Museveni's recent comments could worsen Kenya's long-standing diplomatic relations with Uganda, with some accusing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of downplaying the matter.

GAROWE ONLINE