Abstract: In recent years,East Africa continental margin where many large gas fields are discovered has become an emerging focus in the international energy exploration.East Africa contains huge potential of oil and gas resources,but the exploration and research degree is low.On the basis of regional geological and petroleum geology data,and the analysis of the evolution process and the hydrocarbon accumulation elements(source rocks,assemblage of reservoir and seal,trap types)of the East Africa continental margin,the hydrocarbon pooling patterns and the prospect of hydrocarbon exploration has been discussed.Research suggests that the East Africa continental margin has experienced four tectonic evolution stages.The passive continental margin sequences overlay the rift sequences,forming the double layer structure of the basins.The major hydrocarbon source rocks formed in the Karoo rift period,while the key reservoir formed in the passive continental margin stage.In areas of large delta development,hydrocarbon preservation conditions are the best,dominated by strctural and structural-stratigraphic trapping.Hydrocarbon accumulation patterns are controlled by the phases of tectonic evolution and horizontal segment of tectonic deformation as well as the configuration of hydrocarbon accumulation elements.