Experts say tectonic activity in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania may form new ocean over millions of years

Geologists have confirmed that the East African Rift is showing increasing signs of continental separation, with evidence suggesting the African landmass is gradually fracturing along the boundary between the Nubian, Somali, and Arabian tectonic plates. The latest observations were made public on Thursday, following extensive satellite radar and field studies across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Researchers disclosed that the rift zone, which extends for over 3,000 kilometres from the Red Sea down to Mozambique, is generating surface cracks as well as new oceanic crust beneath certain parts of East Africa. This process may eventually result in the continent splitting into two distinct landmasses within the next five to ten million years. According to Christopher Moore, a doctoral researcher at the University of Leeds who has studied the phenomenon extensively, “This is the only place on Earth where you can study how a continental rift becomes an oceanic rift.”

The significance of this development is not lost on many Nigerians and Africans at large. The East African Rift’s geological evolution could impact future climate patterns and even influence economic activities in affected countries. While experts emphasise that such changes will occur over a long timescale, there are concerns about how communities living along the rift may face displacement or altered landscapes as fissures widen.

Geophysicists monitoring the situation highlighted that satellite technology has enabled them to track movements along fault lines with unprecedented accuracy. Field studies have also recorded periodic seismic activity and widening cracks in populated areas within Ethiopia and Kenya. However, they maintained that immediate risks to local communities remain low for now.

As research continues, authorities across East Africa are being urged to factor these geological findings into long-term urban planning and disaster preparedness strategies. Meanwhile, scientific teams plan to expand their monitoring efforts to ensure early warning systems are in place if significant changes accelerate unexpectedly.

Source: https://guardian.ng/life/odd-news/is-africa-splitting-in-two-geologists-think-so/