MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somali prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble on Monday arrived in Doha to hold talks with Qatari officials including Qatari Emir Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Bin Abdulaziz Al Thani.
The move comes as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) plans to render its verdict in the maritime dispute between Somalia and Kenya on October 12.
The Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Doha International Airport by Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Ambassador of Qatar to Somalia Hassan bin Hamza Hashem and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to Qatar H E Abdul Razak Farah Ali.
Qatar has been pivotal in brokering the resumption of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Somalia after Somalia cut ties in December 2020.
The ICJ last month notified Somalia and Kenya that it would deliver its ruling in the longstanding maritime dispute on October 12 at the Peace Palace in the Hague, Netherlands.
The verdict could bring a legal conclusion to a nearly seven-year-long saga.
The court will rule on who has rights over a 100,000sq km triangle of water believed to hold valuable hydrocarbon deposits. Three blocks currently operated by Italian oil giant Eni are in the disputed area.
Kenya abruptly pulled out of the case as hearings began in Mid-March, accusing the U. N’s highest court of bias after the ICJ denied its request for additional postponement. Kenya has argued that the African Union should handle the case.
Both Somalia and Kenya are contesting ownership of a triangular territory measuring 100,000sq km in the Indian Ocean boundary.
Somalia went to court in 2014 following what it termed as failure to settle the matter with her neighbour, Kenya bilaterally.
Discussion about this post