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Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, has rejected a call by the UN’s highest courtroom to grant Somalia management of disputed waters within the Indian Ocean, saying it might “pressure relations” between the neighbouring international locations.
The president accused the worldwide courtroom of justice of imposing its authority on a dispute “it had neither jurisdiction nor competence” to supervise after it delineated a brand new boundary that offers Somalia territorial rights over a big portion of the ocean, which is considered wealthy in oil and gasoline reserves. In line with the brand new maritime border, Somalia has gained a number of offshore oil exploration blocks beforehand claimed by Kenya.
The 2 international locations are already embroiled in disputes over the presence of Kenyan troopers in Somalia as a part of the African Union mission within the nation. Somalia has constantly accused Kenyan troops of destabilising the nation, which have resulted in intermittent remembers of each international locations’ envoys.
Kenyatta mentioned on Wednesday: “This [ruling] is, within the circumstances, a zero-sum sport, which can pressure the relations between the 2 international locations. It’ll additionally reverse the social, political and financial beneficial properties; and doubtlessly worsen the peace and safety scenario within the fragile Horn of Africa area.
“Kenya, like different impartial international locations, possesses a decided geographical territory. As a faithful member of the United Nations, the United Nations safety council in addition to the African Union’s peace and safety council, we beseech the remainder of the household of countries to understand and respect our inherent proper to guard, by all out there means, our territory.”
However he added that Kenya was “dedicated to discovering a diplomatic answer to the present deadlock”.
Somalia first filed a case with the courtroom in August 2014 to find out the delimitation of 100,000 sq km (38,000 sq miles) of the Indian Ocean claimed by each international locations.
Kenya has historically administered the realm, together with oil and gasoline exploration initiatives.
However on Tuesday, the courtroom declared there was no agreed maritime boundary and drew up the brand new border simply wanting the place Somalia had requested. The courtroom rejected Somalia’s demand for reparations and its argument that Kenya’s maritime actions had violated its sovereignty.
The ruling is legally binding, however can’t be enforced by the courtroom.
Somalia mentioned the ruling was a victory for the nation. In a televised handle and official tweets, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also referred to as Farmaajo, mentioned it adopted the lengthy battle by his authorities and the folks of Somalia “in opposition to the illegal makes an attempt by the Kenyan authorities to assert components of our maritime territory”.
Farmaajo mentioned: “Every time we unite for the aim of patriotism and the defence of our nation, this type of victory all the time follows.” He went on to accuse Kenya of indiscriminate airstrikes inside Somalia ensuing within the “deaths of harmless civilians, together with ladies and youngsters”.
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