NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – The Majority of the leader of Kenya’s parliament, Adan Barre Duale out ruled that Somalia-Kenya maritime boundary dispute mired the relations between the Nations.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Duale said Kenya’s relationship with Somalia remains intact despite the escalating dispute over International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He stated that Kenya’s ambassador is still in Somalia helping that country’s nationals coming to Nairobi. Several NGOs from Somalia are still based in Nairobi.
“We have Somali ministers in Kenya who are staying without any issue; there are also Somali nationals in Kenya who are not being harassed,” he said.
The leader called on the presidents of both countries to work on mean resolve the difference s between the states.
“We would appeal to both President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Abdullahi Farmajo to consider brotherhood and neighborhood that has been there for decades. I personally believe the issue (border row) can be solved amicably through dialogue,” he stated.
The government of Kenya has been trying to worsen the diplomatic relationship with Somalia.
Last month, Kenyan authorities had denied Somali delegation access into the country.
Delegation comprising of a deputy minister and number of lawmakers of the federal government were said to been held at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for unspecified reasons.
Those denied entries are Minister Osman Liban, Senator Ilyas Ali Hassan, Senator Zamzam Dahir, and several senior officials.
Kenya and Somalia had a protracted dispute over a maritime boundary.
In February this year, Kenya summoned its ambassador to Somalia, saying it was protesting a decision by the Mogadishu government to auction oil and gas exploration blocks at the center of a maritime territorial dispute in the Indian Ocean, a move denied by the Somali government.
In 2014 Somalia sued Kenya at the International Court of Justice.
Late 2017, Somalia won its first bid to resolve a case over a maritime dispute before the ICJ.
Judges at the ICJ dismissed claims fronted by Kenya’s lawyers that there exists an alternative method of resolving the matter.
Somalia wants the court to demarcate the maritime boundary, and to determine the exact geographical coordinates as an extension of its southern borders.
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