Kenya-Somalia Maritime Dispute Hearing Scheduled

A maritime border dispute between Kenya and Somalia in scheduled to be heard before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) starting September 9. The hearing will take place at the ICJ at The Hague, Netherlands. It will also be streamed live.

The dispute concerns 100,000 square kilometres of ocean, which is thought to contain oil and gas deposits. It has been a source of tension between the two countries, and earlier this year Kenya recalled its ambassador to Somalia after it accused the government of marketing the disputed territory to investors.

Both Kenya and Somalia will be given two days in order to state their case, with Somalia taking to the stand first. Somalia brought the case to the ICJ when it filed a complaint regarding the dispute. Kenya responded with a preliminary objection on the basis that other avenues of dispute resolution had not been exhausted in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two nations.

Kenya continues to seek an out of court settlement. However, Somalia’s foreign affairs minister Ahmed Isse Awad has previously stated that Somalia prefers to have the matter settled by the courts.