The International Court of Justice has sided with Somalia in its dispute with neighboring Kenya over a maritime boundary in a case affecting territory potentially rich in oil and gas
NAIROBI, Kenya -- The International Court of Justice has sided with Somalia in its dispute with neighboring Kenya over a maritime boundary in a case affecting a territory potentially rich in oil and gas.
The ruling on Tuesday by the United Nations’ highest court is legally binding, though the court has no enforcement powers. The court rejected Kenya’s claim of the maritime boundary it sought, saying Kenya had not consistently maintained it. Instead, it leaned closer to Somalia’s claim of a straight line into the Indian Ocean from their border.
“Congratulations to the Somali people, we have succeeded in capturing our seas,” Somalia's minister of information, Osman Dubbe, tweeted.
But the court rejected Somalia’s pursuit of reparations after the country alleged that some of Kenya’s maritime activities had violated its sovereignty.
Kenya last week said it would not recognize the court's judgment, alleging that the judicial process had “obvious and inherent bias.” Its statement acknowledged that the judgment would have “profound security, political, social and economic ramifications in the region and beyond,” while urging Kenyans to remain calm.
Somalia filed the ICJ case over the countries’ maritime boundary in 2014, contributing to their strained relations.
The court based at The Hague noted that it “cannot ignore the context of the civil war” that destabilized Somalia for years and limited its government functions. It also found “no compelling evidence that Somalia has acquiesced” to Kenya’s claim of a maritime boundary along a parallel line of latitude.
din0d0nut on October 12nd, 2021 at 18:25 UTC »
Well yeah. Kenya’s claim is entirely ridiculous and pretty blatantly spits in the face of international and maritime law.
321142019 on October 12nd, 2021 at 15:57 UTC »
They've given Kenya a little tiny corner in their favour, seems fishy, it'll be interesting to see how many oil wells end up being in that zone.
Ace_Euroo on October 12nd, 2021 at 15:17 UTC »
SS:
Court of Justice (ICJ) on Tuesday hands down its judgment in a case filed by Somalia against Kenya over contested parts of the Indian Ocean believed to be rich in oil and gas.
The ruling comes after Nairobi last week said it had revoked recognition of the court's jurisdiction.
Somalia filed the case in 2014 at the United Nation's highest court for disputes between states. A decision could determine who holds the rights to exploit oil and gas in the deep waters off the East African coastline.
The case at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, concerns a maritime boundary dispute over more than 100,000 sq km (nearly 40,000 sq miles) of sea floor claimed by both countries. In March, Kenya boycotted public hearings in The Hague.
Kenya said on Friday that in addition to withdrawing its participation from the current case, it had joined many other members of the U.N. in withdrawing its recognition of the Court’s compulsory jurisdiction.