Challenges Of Sustainable Maritime Security In Africa: A Case Of The Tanzania-Malawi Dispute

Abstract

Challenges of sustainable maritime security in Africa: a case of the Tanzania-Malawi dispute is the research project trying to find solution on the border dispute between “Tanzania and Malawi” on Lake Nyasa. This project has three objectives which are; firstly to investigate the causes of the Tanzania-Malawi border dispute, secondly to examine the maritime security challenges arising from Tanzania-Malawi Border Dispute and thirdly to analyze the efforts towards solving Tanzania-Malawi border dispute. This Research has become useful on identifying how the international border disputes can arise and helps in providing the best step/mechanism for settlement of the international border dispute. The study took various approaches in data collection. The study explored challenges of sustainable maritime security in Africa by utilizing Tanzania-Malawi maritime boarder dispute as a case study. This research has been underpinned by Territorial Theory, which is attributed to upholding territorial integrity of a sovereignty country. The Malawi-Tanzania border dispute re-emerged in 2012 when the Malawi government awarded an exploration license to a “British firm Surestream Petroleum”, to search for oil and gas in Lake Malawi/Nyasa. Since the award of the licence, tensions between the two neighboring states have escalated. However, the causes of the Malawi-Tanzania border dispute can be traced back to the “Heligoland Treaty”, the inconsistent evidence regarding the border and the role of oil and natural gas potential in the dispute escalation. The study established that several initiatives and approaches have been enrolled both by the government and other non-governmental actors, to solve the dispute before its escalation to a full blown inter-state conflict. While mediation had borne positive results, other strategies had also facilitated the solving of the dispute which included arbitration, regional offices and diplomacy. The combination of these factors has ensured the containment of the escalation of the dispute. Therefore in-order to resolve the conflict the two states should adopt an ad hoc joint committee mandated with fast-tracking the sustainable utilization and development of Lake Nyasa basin.