Kenyan Government Downplays President Museveni's Threat Over Indian Ocean Access

The Kenyan government has reacted to the recent comments made by the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, who opined that the East African region may plunge into another war in the future due to the inability of the landlocked countries to have direct access to the Indian Ocean.

On Wednesday, November 12, the Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing'Oei denied the remarks of Museveni and said he is sure that the Ugandan president respects the sovereignty of the regions and the principles of territorial integrity.

I need not say much of what President Museveni said in relation to our oceans, Sing'Oei said.

But I feel nearly certain that he knows very well our country and the character of our rights in relation to our natural resources, and his rights in relation to resources in Ugandan territory.

The PS pointed out that Kenya places great importance on the long-standing diplomatic and economic association with Uganda, as both countries have in the past overcome any disputes in dialogue and mutual respect.

Controversial Remarks made by Museveni.

The remarks of President Museveni in the Mbala State Lodge, when he was participating in a radio interview on Sunday, November 8, have caused much attention in the East African Community (EAC).

In the interview, Museveni indicated his frustration with Uganda being landlocked, pointing out that states that have no seaports are at an economic and strategic disadvantage.

He cautioned that, in case the situation is not addressed, it would be a possible cause of conflicts that may arise in the future in the region.

In Uganda, even though you would like to build a navy, how are you going to build the navy? The sea, we do not have that, Museveni said.

The African political structure is so unreasonable.

Other nations are landlocked to the sea, and you are in limbo. How do I export my products? That is the reason why we have enjoyed endless talks with Kenya. This one stops, another comes.

But that ocean is mine; I have a right to that ocean. We shall have wars in the days to come.

The Ugandan President also compared the case to that of tenants cohabiting in the same apartment where they have to share common facilities, citing that equal access to maritime routes is vital in maintaining the economic stability of the region and enhancing fairness.

Geographical Location and Economic Repercussions.

Uganda, a country that was able to attain independence in 1962, is still a landlocked state and depends on the Port of Mombasa as its main maritime entry point in Kenya.

Uganda has a Cargo and general port of Mombasa, where about 90 percent of its fuel and other cargo is transited, and the remaining 10 percent is carried by the Tanzanian Port of Dar es Salaam. In the past years, there have been occasional logistical

conflict and disagreement on trade policies between the two neighbors. Nevertheless, these two nations have continued to enjoy good bilateral relations based on common infrastructural projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway and Northern Corridor Transport Network. The comments of Museveni are made against the background of the trade tensions.

In January 2024, Uganda petitioned the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) with an allegation that Kenya unfairly limited its access to the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) infrastructure.

Uganda claimed that this is against the trade protocols of EAC and hurts the integration efforts of the region.

Notwithstanding these shortcomings, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kenya has once again pledged its adherence to peace and integration in the region as well as open dialogue. PS Sing'Oei has highlighted that the East African Community offers a viable platform of conflict resolution without the need to use inflammatory rhetoric and threats.

Diplomatic Assurance and Regional Security.

According to diplomatic analysts, Museveni was only making overstatements that would not lead to a physical war. His statements are perceived by many as frustrations by trade barriers and bottlenecks in the infrastructure as opposed to an actual war threat.

Kenyan officials have been evading the issue escalation, but rather opting to use reassurance and restraint. The reaction of Nairobi is indicative of a wider policy of regional integration to enhance economic links and promote collective security in the EAC.

In a bid to solve the problems of landlocked countries in the region, the government of Kenya keeps on preaching dialogue and cooperation as the most effective way of countering the problem of logistics and trade.

As PS Sing'Oei pointed out, "Kenya will continue to promote peaceful co-existence and co-prosperity among all the East African countries. We have a common fate of cooperation, not fighting.