2026 Nairobi Geopolitics Forum

The interplay between maritime access, strategic corridors, and regional stability has evolved into a critical geopolitical question for countries in the Eastern and Southern African regions. As landlocked countries intensify efforts to secure dependable transit to the sea, coastal and transit states, along with external actors, are increasingly engaging in corridor governance, port development, and maritime security arrangements. In some cases, these efforts have been framed as economic cooperation, but in others as strategic positioning. This dual nature underscores how maritime access is not only about trade logistics but also about power projection, influence over regional supply chains, and broader security dynamics.

Recent moves by some coastal states to formalize maritime rights and regulate access for landlocked neighbors demonstrate the urgency of this issue. For example, in April 2024, Kenya proposed a regional maritime treaty in coordination with Djibouti and IGAD to govern how landlocked states in East Africa can access coastal ports under commercial terms. The aim is to balance LLDCs’ access needs with coastal states’ sovereignty and maritime security concerns.

Despite these initiatives, critical gaps remain: corridor infrastructure is often uneven, administrative and customs arrangements vary across borders, and institutional frameworks for transit governance and maritime security are weak or fragmented. In contexts where external powers invest in port or naval infrastructure, there is a risk that economic corridor management becomes a platform for geopolitical competition rather than inclusive regional development.

Against this backdrop, there is a pressing need for structured dialogue among governments, policy think tanks, scholars, and regional bodies to assess how maritime access, corridor governance, and security interplay, and how the region can safeguard open, stable, and equitable access for landlocked and coastal states alike. Accordingly, the 2026 Nairobi Geopolitics Forum seeks to convene stakeholders to unpack these dynamics and explore pathways for cooperative, rules-based, and resilient corridor governance. This important forum will facilitate dialogue on evolving maritime security trends, the strategic implications of emerging trade routes, and policy options to strengthen regional stability while safeguarding access for landlocked economies. The discussion aims to generate practical insights to inform national strategies and regional cooperation mechanisms.

The 2026 Nairobi Geopolitics Forum will also take place at a strategically significant moment for Kenya, and the wider Eastern Africa region, as Kenya will host the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties from 16–18 June 2026. As host, Kenya will place Africa’s maritime interests, blue economy priorities, and ocean governance challenges at the center of global dialogue. The conference will convene governments, private sector actors, researchers, youth leaders, and civil society to advance action on sustainable ocean management, marine conservation, ocean finance, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), and investment in the sustainable blue economy. In this context, the Nairobi Geopolitics Forum serves as an important regional policy platform to interrogate the geopolitical dimensions of maritime access, strategic corridors, and regional stability ahead of the global summit. By convening policymakers, scholars, and regional institutions in April 2026, the Forum aims to generate policy insights and strategic recommendations that can help inform Kenya’s positioning and regional coordination ahead of the 11th Our Ocean Conference.