Kenya Govt Breaks Silence after Museveni’s War Threats over Indian Ocean Access
President William Ruto’s government has responded to remarks made by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who suggested that disputes over access to the Indian Ocean could one day lead to war among African nations.
Speaking on Sunday, November 9, during a public address in Kampala, President Museveni criticised what he termed as unfair restrictions placed on landlocked countries, including Uganda, which rely heavily on Kenya’s port of Mombasa for trade and strategic operations.
Using a striking analogy, Museveni compared Africa to a “shared apartment block,” arguing that coastal nations should not claim exclusive ownership of vital maritime routes.
“Africa is like a condominium. You cannot say that because you live in the apartment next to the road, the others cannot use it,” Museveni remarked. “We cannot have some African countries being blocked from the sea when we are one people.”
The Ugandan leader went further to highlight what he described as “structural challenges” in regional cooperation, pointing to Uganda’s dependence on Kenya for key trade corridors and logistical infrastructure.
He cited railways, pipelines, and port access as areas that often lead to diplomatic friction, warning that continued restrictions could “plant the seeds of future conflicts.”
Kenya Downplays Museveni’s Remarks
The Kenyan government responded through Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, during the Ministry’s third quarterly media briefing held in Nairobi on Monday.
Dr. Sing’Oei sought to ease tensions, describing Kenya’s relations with Uganda as stable and grounded in long-standing respect for international law and regional cooperation.
“I will not comment much on what President Museveni said with respect to our oceans,” he told journalists. “But I believe he understands very well the nature of our territory, our rights with respect to our natural resources, and his rights within Uganda’s territory.”
The Foreign Affairs official underscored Kenya’s commitment to diplomacy and international legal frameworks governing territorial integrity and resource use.
“Kenya continues to respect international law, particularly those provisions that guarantee the rights and obligations of coastal and landlocked states,” he added.
Focus on Regional Cooperation and Peace
Dr. Sing’Oei also used the briefing to outline the broader goals of Kenya’s foreign policy under President Ruto’s administration, emphasising peace, integration, and mutual prosperity across East Africa.
“This forum provided an opportunity for us to update the general public on the ministry’s milestones, priorities, and progress in advancing Kenya’s foreign policy objectives,” he said in a statement later shared on social media. “We highlighted our relationship with countries in the East African Community, peace and security issues, as well as diaspora-related matters.”
Relations between Kenya and Uganda have historically been cooperative, despite occasional disagreements over trade routes, cross-border taxation, and energy infrastructure. Analysts note that Museveni’s comments may reflect growing frustration among landlocked states in the region over logistical dependence on Kenya’s coastal facilities.
However, Nairobi’s measured response suggests that both governments remain keen to avoid escalation and continue dialogue within the East African Community framework.
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Kenya Govt Breaks Silence after Museveni’s War Threats over Indian Ocean Access