The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has postponed the Kenya-Somalia maritime dispute case following an application by the Kenya government, which sought time to recruit a new defence team. Kenya’s request is contained in a letter from the Attorney General’s office, dated September 3. “I have the honour to inform you that the court has duly considered the request made by the Republic of Kenya on September 3 that hearings due to open on 9 September 2019, be postponed two months,
According to Somalia’s ambassador to the EU, Ali Said Fiqi, the ICJ informed both neighbouring countries that their dispute case about the maritime has been delayed for two months. The envoy who confirmed the postponement dispelled reports claiming twelve months delay saying the hearing of the case will kick off 4th of November. “In light of the circumstances and the possible alternative dates in its judicial calendar, the Court decided to grant a postponement of the oral proceedings in the case and rescheduled the oral hearings to the week beginning Monday 4 November 2019,” the registrar stated.
The court however, expressed “deep regret regarding this last-minute request which has caused undue effect on the administration of the judicial work of the court.