Somalia Looks To Ease Tensions With Kenya On Maritime Dispute

The Somali government is seeking to calm diplomatic tensions with Kenya following an incident in which Somalia was accused of auctioning contested oil blocks.

After Somalia was accused of promoting the Indian Ocean blocks, which are currently subject to an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, Kenya removed its ambassador from the country and instructed the Somali ambassador in Kenya to leave Nairobi.

The Somali government has since moved to reassure the Kenyan government that it remains committed to not undertaking any unilateral activities in the disputed area until judgement has been made. It has also expressed its regret at Kenya’s decision to recall the ambassador without prior consultation. 

The dispute was raised with the ICJ by Somalia in August 2014 following failed negotiations between the two nations. Kenya has since unsuccessfully challenged the ICJ’s jurisdiction over the case.