East Africa in active stage of continental break-up, study shows

East Africa is already in an active stage of continental rifting, with the Earth’s crust in some areas thinning to critical levels, according to a study published in Nature Communications.

Geologists examined the Turkana Rift Zone in Kenya, part of the East African Rift System, where the African tectonic plate is gradually splitting into two.

Analysis of seismic data shows that the crystalline crust along the rift has thinned to around 13 kilometres, while at its margins it still exceeds 35 kilometres.

Researchers say this indicates the rift is entering a “necking phase” — a critical period before the continent fully splits and a new ocean forms.

The authors of the study estimate that the active phase of accelerated crustal stretching began around four million years ago.

Interestingly, this period coincides with the formation of rich fossil deposits in East Africa, where numerous remains of early human ancestors were later discovered.

Researchers emphasise that a full continental split would take millions of years.

However, the identification of an active thinning phase shows that the East African Rift System has already passed an important geological threshold, significantly increasing the likelihood of eventual continental separation.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov