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THE HAGUE. – The United Nations’ top court has awarded Somalia control of most of a potentially oil- and gas-rich chunk of the Indian Ocean after a bitter legal battle with neighbouring Kenya over their sea border.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled yesterday that there was “no agreed maritime boundary” and drew a new border close to the one claimed by Somalia, although Kenya kept a part of the 100 000 square-kilometre area, chief judge Joan Donoghue said.
The ruling 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.
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 said last week that it would not recognise the court’s judgement, alleging that the judicial process had “obvious and inherent bias”.
Its statement acknowledged that the judgement 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. – Al Jazeera
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