ICJ RULE ON MARITIME CONFLICT – KENYA LOSES TO SOMALI
ICJ RULE ON MARITIME CONFLICT – KENYA LOSES TO SOMALI
Summary
- Somalia was given the bigger share of the disputed area after the case was ruled today by the International court of Justice.
- The top court, ICJ ruled in favor of Somali and stated that Kenya did not have enough evidence that shows an agreement of the Kenya Somali maritime border
- Kenya stated that the International court of Justice is biased and won’t recognize the verdict given by The Hague.
- Kenya Somali maritime border dispute to continue after the International court of Justice ruled in favor of Somali
Detailed News
ICJ RULE ON MARITIME CONFLICT – KENYA LOSES TO SOMALI
The ICJ gave the verdict on the Kenyan Somali maritime border dispute of which entailed that Somali be given sixty-five percent of the disputed area, leaving Kenya with only thirty-five percent. Kenya although stated that the International Court of Justice is biased and won’t recognize the verdict given by the panel of judges. The court however is not in a position to enforce the verdict, hence we will have to wait and see what happens.
Back in 2009, both Kenya and Somali agreed to settle the maritime dispute through means of negotiations but Somali insisted during the hearing that the negotiations fell apart and that’s when they reported the dispute to ICJ. Somali also stated that Kenya violated the country’s sovereignty by still conducting its operations on their territorial maritime waters and demanded that Kenya repatriate, although the judges rejected the argument. The Deputy Prime Minister of Somali, Mohammed Guled told BBC News that they believe in a system governed by rules and that is the reason they reported the case to the Hague.
The court is usually the final arbitrator in disputes, especially between different nations. Kenya looks more than likely to ignore the verdict given by the International Court of Justice of which could escalate and reach the UN Security Council as reported by Anna Holligan from BBC news. The Hague has already released the verdict and the countries are supposed to adhere to it, but as things are going down, this is far from happening and we just have to wait and see.
