A recent geological report suggests that the African continent is slowly tearing apart—an extraordinary process that could eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean.
Though this transformation may take anywhere from 1 to 20 million years, geologists consider this a relatively short time on the scale of Earth’s geological history.
The area in question lies within the East African Rift System (EARS), a tectonically active zone stretching across countries such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea.
This rift marks the boundary where the African Plate is gradually splitting into two separate plates: the Nubian and the Somalian.
According to experts, the tectonic plates in this region are drifting apart at a rate of approximately 0.3 inches (about 7.5 millimeters) per year.
This is driven by the movement of magma deep beneath the Earth’s surface, which is causing the land to slowly fracture and sink.
“In the future, as extension continues along the rift, the rift valley will sink lower and lower, eventually allowing ocean waters to flood into the basin,” explains the London Geographical Society on its website.
“If rifting continues, new basaltic oceanic crust may form along the center of the rift, producing a new narrow ocean basin with its own mid-ocean ridge between the Nubian and Somalian plates.”he added
This means that, over millions of years, countries in the Horn of Africa could become entirely separated from the rest of the continent, forming a new landmass with its own coastline.
The environmental impact would be significant, altering climate patterns, geography, and ecosystems throughout northeastern Africa.
The potential emergence of a sixth ocean—the last being the Southern Ocean, formally recognized in 2021 around Antarctica—was brought back into public attention after a large fissure opened in Ethiopia in 2005, signaling accelerated tectonic activity.
While the timeline stretches far beyond human lifespans, scientists say studying this process is vital. It offers a rare opportunity to understand continental breakup, ocean formation, and the dynamic processes shaping our planet.