BLUE POLITICS, BLUE STAKEHOLDERS AND BLUE RELATED CONFLICTS IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST: EMERGING GEOPOLITICAL DISCOURSE

The increasing strategic importance of oceans and coastal environments has given rise to the emerging discourse of blue politics, which captures the intersection of maritime governance, resource competition, and geopolitical rivalry. This study examines blue politics, blue stakeholders, and blue-related conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, with particular attention to how competing economic and strategic interests shape maritime governance outcomes. The study is grounded in Maritime Geopolitical Theory and Common-Pool Resource Theory, which together explain how power dynamics and governance failures influence conflict and cooperation in shared maritime spaces. Using a qualitative research design based on secondary data from peer-reviewed journals, institutional reports, and policy documents, the study analyzes maritime dynamics in key regions. Findings reveal that blue politics is driven by the interaction of economic opportunity, geopolitical rivalry, and institutional weakness. While the blue economy offers significant developmental potential, it simultaneously intensifies competition among diverse stakeholders, including states, multinational corporations, and external powers. The study further finds that maritime insecurity manifested through piracy, resource theft, militarization, and environmental degradation remains a persistent challenge in both regions. The study concludes that despite strong economic interdependence, regional cooperation in maritime governance remains limited due to mistrust, asymmetric power relations, and fragmented institutional frameworks. Sustainable management of maritime spaces therefore requires inclusive governance, strengthened regional institutions, and enhanced stakeholder cooperation.