https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0221-8260
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ABSTRACT
Socio-economic security has motivated African states to explore natural resources in areas of overlapping maritime claims. However, Africa’s maritime boundaries are characterized by unresolved disputes. Resolution of these disputes is time-consuming, expensive and can undermine the state’s ability to exploit natural resources. The Somalia and Kenya maritime dispute under litigation with the International Court of Justice demonstrates the continental commitment to peaceful resolution. Citing cases from across Africa, we discuss outright delimitation or Joint Management Zones (JMZs) as means to address disputes over shared resources, particularly transboundary fisheries, which have received little attention. Reframing the Kenya-Somalia maritime dispute resolution process as cooperation over fisheries management will have spill-over effects into greater diplomatic relations. Fish do not abide by maritime boundaries. As such, we posit that the peaceful resolution of maritime boundary disputes lies in Africa’s ability to consider settlements by way of JMZs to motivate sustainable use of natural resources.
Acknowledgements
Authors appreciate the two anonymous reviewers whose comments significantly improved the manuscript. We are thankful for the inspiration and useful insights from various stakeholders and communities throughout Africa who continue to motivate us to think about the importance of maritime boundary cooperation. Authors thank Paige Roberts (One Earth Future, Secure Fisheries) for help with developing the map. We appreciate Nina Wambiji (Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)) and Cullen Hendrix (University of Denver) for comments on the initial manuscript.
Author statement: N.I.K and I.O-Y conceptualized the idea. N.I.K and I.O-Y wrote the manuscript. Z.L contributed to the literature review. S.G contributed to the analysis of the case studies. N.I.K and I.O-Y revised the manuscript. S.G provided the final editing for the initial draft and revised manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes on contributors
Nelly Isigi Kadagi, Ph.D., is the Director of the Education for Nature Program and Conservation Leadership at World Wildlife Fund, USA. She is also a Co-Principal Scientist at BILLFISH-WIO, an ongoing regional research project on billfish in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). She works at the interface of science, policy, and conservation with a focus on the ecology and management of large pelagic fish species, maritime and fisheries conflicts, Blue Economy, and capacity development. The WWF-Education for Nature Program provides funding support for graduate-level training, research, and professional development to conservation leaders in the global South to accelerate conservation outcomes.
Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in Sustainable Development at the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, Scotland. She is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, National Defence College, Abuja, Nigeria. Her research investigates the extent to which unsustainable use of the marine environment and the resources therein might precipitate conflict and insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea region.
Sarah M. Glaser, Ph.D., is Director of Secure Fisheries, a program of One Earth Future Foundation. Her research investigates the causes of conflict over fisheries resources in the Horn of Africa and the ecology of fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean. Secure Fisheries supports sustainable fisheries management and scientific research in the Somali region.
Zachary Lien is a Sié Fellow at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies. His research focuses on the intersection of religion and international human rights, as well as investigates the relationships between religion, freedom of thought, apostasy and blasphemy laws, and religious violence.