MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News)-Somali government wants the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decide the fate of potentially lucrative oil and gas reserves off the East African coast as Somalia and Kenya disputed over maritime boundaries.
Speaking to BBC Somali service, Somali deputy Prime Minister, Mahdi Mohamed Guleid said Somalia took its maritime border row with Kenya to the United Nations’ top court to settle the dispute.
He said Somalia requested the court to determine the case on the basis of international law which Somalia considers it to be fair for both countries.
“Somalia wants the court to demarcate the maritime boundary, and to determine the exact geographical coordinates as an extension of its southern borders,” he said.
The leader criticized Kenya’s move to cut diplomatic relations with the horn of African nation over a case at the ICJ.
“Somalia and Kenya are brotherly countries and neighbors with historical relations. They should strengthen their ties and let the court decide the case,” he stated.
Somalia, which lies to the north of Kenya, wants the maritime border to continue along the line of the land border, to the southeast.
Kenya, however, wants the sea border to go in a straight line east, giving it more sea territory.
Discussion about this post