Africa splitting: Scientists confirm birth of Earth’s sixth ocean

Indian Defence Review unveils in a new article that scientists have confirmed the ongoing formation of Earth’s sixth ocean, a geological shift slowly unfolding within the East African Rift. Stretching thousands of kilometers, this tectonic rift is gradually reshaping the African continent as tectonic plates move apart, a process that, over millions of years, could ultimately split the continent into two.

The East African Rift is unique for its potential to create a new ocean. Since 2005, a 35-mile-long crack in the Ethiopian desert has been steadily expanding, signaling the beginning of this dramatic transformation. This rift is caused by the gradual separation of three major tectonic plates: the African, Somali, and Arabian plates. Although this movement is nearly imperceptible on human timescales, it marks the beginning of a profound geographical change.

Tectonic plates, large segments of Earth's crust floating above a semi-fluid mantle, have shaped the planet’s surface over millions of years. In the case of the East African Rift, the Somali plate is moving away from the Nubian plate, a process similar to the ancient separation of South America and Africa, which began hundreds of millions of years ago.

The movement is slow—just a few millimeters per year—but it is causing the Afar region and the East African Rift Valley to gradually sink. In time, this will allow water from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to flood the valley, potentially creating a new ocean.

Ken Macdonald, a marine geophysicist at the University of California, explains, “The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will flood over the Afar region and into the East African Rift Valley, creating a new ocean. As a result, this part of East Africa will eventually become its own small continent.”

The formation of this ocean could have significant socio-economic implications for East Africa. Landlocked countries like Ethiopia and Uganda may gain coastlines, unlocking new access to global trade routes and boosting economic prospects. This geological shift could also prompt infrastructure development, including ports and trade hubs, positioning these nations as key players in global commerce.

While this transformation will unfold over millions of years, it marks the start of a gradual yet profound shift in both the physical landscape and political dynamics of the region. The East African Rift is not only a geological phenomenon—it is the precursor to a new ocean that could redefine the future of East Africa.

By Naila Huseynova