The Somali administration has categorically disputed Kenyan assertions about the existence of maritime dispute negotiations arbitrated by Djibouti counterpart Ismail Omar.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Balcad told the legislative Committee on Foreign Affairs in Mogadishu that President William Ruto’s statements in Djibouti had upset his administration.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) resolved the maritime dispute between Somalia and Kenya, according to Balcad. He speculated that President Ruto’s remarks may have been related to the process of executing the Court’s decision.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) determined in October 2021 that a disputed maritime boundary between Somalia and Kenya should be changed to grant Somalia rights to the bulk of an oil-rich section of the Indian Ocean.
Kenya’s then-President Uhuru Kenyatta disputed the ICJ ruling’s conclusions. President Ruto’s recent remarks in Djibouti have aroused worries about Kenya’s persistent resistance to the verdict and attempts to engage in dispute settlement negotiations with Somalia.
The Somali government’s reaction to President Ruto’s remarks emphasises its commitment to honouring the ICJ judgement and resolving the conflict peacefully. The administration has always advocated for communication and collaboration between the two countries to resolve the conflict.
Somalia and Kenya have been at odds for some years, with both claiming sovereignty of a 100,000 square km territory in the Indian Ocean. The ICJ judgement was regarded as a crucial step towards settling the issue, but Kenya’s rejection of the ruling has hindered efforts to find a long-term settlement.
The government’s stance is crucial in encouraging regional peace and collaboration, as well as protecting the Somali people’s rights and interests.