- The small Migingo Island in Lake Victoria is ascending as a dispute between the reluctant governments of Kenya and Uganda as local fishermen are claiming the island for both countries.
Authorities in Kampala and Nairobi are feeling that everything is going to rapidly when it comes to the rather insignificant island of Migingo. What a petty that the case has already reached the media, they hold, because the brotherly relations between the two nations would have assured a solution that could have eliminated the danger of nationalistic feelings heating up.
But the damage is done. In late September, Kenyan fishermen decided to take action in their own hands and refused to pay Ugandan authorities the "annual operation fee" of shilling 50,000 (euro 20) to operate their fisheries. Fishermen protested the fee, claiming the island is Kenyan.
This in turn led Uganda's marine police, located on Migingo in a tent since three years, to expel the 400 Kenyan fishermen. This was the strongest protection of Ugandan interests on the Lake Victoria island ever, and a welcome reaction to the Kenyan fishermen, who wanted a clear case to present to their authorities.
Returning to recognised Kenyan shores, the fishermen contacted authorities, placing a complaint to the Nairobi government. Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Fisheries Minister Paul Otuoma were asked to help resolve the dispute, and suddenly the issue became an international border dispute.
Both Kenya and Uganda claim Migingo Island, based on unclear maps from the colonial era. Both governments would have preferred to find an agreement in silence, but fears of attacks over selling out the national territory have hindered them from finding a solution before Kenyan fishermen brought up the issue. Now, the issue may slip out of control and become an issue of prestige.
Indeed, until now, the governments of Kenya and Uganda have seen the issue of Migingo mostly as an issue of recurrent cross-border fishing disputes in Lake Victoria. Fishermen from Kenya are fishing on the Ugandan side without paying Ugandan fees, and vice versa. And as such, Ugandan police treated the landing of Kenyan fishermen on Migingo, not thinking about the international consequences their expulsion may have.
By now, district authorities on both sides of the disputed border are making statements to the national press about how one side is harassing the other. Kenyan authorities claim the island has been inhabited by Kenyans as long as anyone could remember, while Ugandans say their flag is raised on the island. But both agree that the question should find its solution looking at colonial maps.
But by now, the case has hit the media in Uganda and Kenya. Still, media are treating the case with respect, giving column space to the other side's arguments. And media reports are still strongly limited by the diplomatic statements by national governments - contrasting some local politicians - which obviously want to avoid an open conflict.
Uganda's 'The Monitor' however reminds its readers of the country's forceful stance when it comes to other territorial conflicts, recently held with Congo Kinshasa (DRC). Uganda had "almost gone to war" with the DRC over Rukwanzi Island in Lake Albert, especially since the discovery of oil in the Albertine Basin, beneath the lake. Both the Ugandan and Congolese armies were seen deploying heavily around the shores at that time, but since that, the crisis has calmed as neither government was prepared to raise the funds needed to survey the border.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español