NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – The government of Kenya has reiterated its call for a response that meets the minimum threshold from the Somali government over the disputed oil blocks in the Indian Ocean.
In a press conference, Kenya foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma on Thursday evening said though Somali had issued a statement disputing the claims raised, it is clear they did not deny the existence of a map that depicts the blocks are on Kenyan territory.
“We have noted with concern Somalia’s intention and plan to auction the oil blocks before January 2020 which is the effective date for sharing between the two countries,” Juma said.
She affirmed that her government’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the disputed maritime border with its neighbour Somalia.
“We sent a protest to Somalia on February 9, when we got to learn that Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals had offered the blocks for auction in London,” Dr. Juma said in the company of her Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau.
“We first called Somalia’s ambassador to explain what the actions of his government were. He said he did not have the information prompting us to send him to his country to get the information we wanted. When he came back, he said he did not have the information.”
The minister vowed that her government will not cede even an inch of its soil to anyone or any state.
Early this week, Somali government said it is not offering, nor does it have any plans to provide any blocks in the disputed maritime area until the ICJ decides the parties’ maritime boundary.
“In this respect, the Government of Somalia reassures the Government of Kenya that it stands by its commitment not to undertake any unilateral activity within the disputed area until such time that the ICJ renders its judgement,” reads a statement from Somalia’s foreign affairs ministry.
The dispute between Kenya and Somalia lies within four maritime blocks rich in oil and gas deposits including Blocks 230, 231, 232 and 233.
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