Strengthening Ties among Landlocked Countries in Eastern Africa: Making Prisoner’s Dilemma a Strategy of Collaboration

More than a quarter of Africa’s nations are hampered economically because they have no direct access to the sea. These nations are dependent on their coastal trading partners and extra fees, bureaucratic delays, and poor infrastructural development hinder their trade. Most importantly, when there is a dispute with an adjoining nation, it has the ability to completely cut off trade unless the landlocked nation can provide incentives to its trading partner to maintain relations through any means possible. Based on Prisoner’s Dilemma Theory, it is hypothesised in this article that it will be in the best interests of seaborne states to defect, or cut off landlocked states’ trade, unless landlocked states can provide incentives for collaboration and build seaborne states’ dependence upon them. A particularly illustrative case is Uganda, which has no available outlets to the sea and has recently entered into an economic community with its two seaborne neighbours. This article examines the outcomes of relations between the nations in the region and also considers strategies for strengthening ties and interdependence among the countries. The article uses data collected mainly through primary and secondary source documents and interviews with experts on the topic. Using document analysis, the collected data were systematically analysed using a qualitative, explanatory case study approach to determine existing dependencies and future areas of growth in interdependency.