Kenya vows not to recognize ICJ’s ruling on Somalia maritime dispute
By Samuel Ouma
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it will not recognize the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on maritime border dispute with Somalia.
Addressing journalists on Friday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Amb Macharia Kamau accused the court of biasness citing that it lacks the jurisdiction to determine the case.
Amb. Macharia criticized the court for continuing to hear the 160,000 sq km triangle case in the Indian Ocean even though Kenya withdrew from the hearing that kicked off in March.
He also slammed the ICJ for ignoring a 2009 agreement between the two nations on how to resolve the row amicably.
The ambassador further criticized the court for also ignoring a 1965 reservation that barred comparable cases from its authority.
“The court’s assumption of jurisdiction where it has none demonstrates new tactics to undermine territorial integrity through pseudo-judicial processes,” he said.
Kenya has cautioned that whatever way the verdict goes, it will have far-reaching security, political, social, and economic consequences throughout the region and beyond.
Somalia believes that its maritime border should follow the southeasterly path of the country’s land border. In contrast, Kenya claims that the border should take a 45-degree bend at the shoreline and follow a latitudinal line.
The verdict will be delivered on October 12, 2021.
