The government of Somalia has vehemently dispelled reports of talks between Somalia and Kenya over the maritime dispute.
Somalia filed maritime case against the East Africa nation at International Court of Justice in Hague.
Responding to his Kenyan counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Kenya, Ahmed Issa Awad said the country [Somalia] has not held discussions with Kenya on the Maritime dispute.
“The case between Somalia and Kenya is at ICJ in Hague. There is nothing like discussions on maritime border,” said Awad.
The sentiment of the minister comes on the heel of the remarks of Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Monica Juma claiming that the two countries had valid MoU to resolve their differences.
Juma who spoke to New African Magazine said Somalia and Kenya were still engaging in talks to iron out their differences.
“We have a mechanism within ourselves and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to resolve any dispute. We have an MOU with Somalia which commits both nations to resolve any disagreement by diplomatic, negotiated means,” said Juma, adding, “every country has several options, including going to court, but because Somalia is inextricably linked to Kenya, we are still exploring all avenues. We have a conversation that is ongoing and we hope we reach an agreeable settlement.”
Somalia’s case which is in four volumes was filed on July 13, 2015.
The country won the first hearing on its case before the International Court of Justice last year.
It sought the maritime boundary redrawn to extend diagonally to the South.
Kenya and Somalia are in dispute over a potentially lucrative, triangular stretch of 100,000 square kilometers of offshore territory believed to contain large oil and gas deposits.
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