Somalia has won most of the maritime dispute with Kenya, according to a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The court initially rejected Kenya’s argument that there was an agreement between the two countries, that there was a border between Somalia and Kenya along the long line. It supported Somalia’s argument that there was no such agreement.
The court then accepted Somalia’s request to decide the maritime border between the two countries, and the ICJ upheld Somalia’s argument that the demarcation should be based on a straight line along the maritime boundary.
As can be seen in the picture below, most of Kenya’s claimed territories have been rejected, but a few have also been excluded from Somalia’s claimed territories, starting after the 12-mile direct line to the land border, and 12 a mile after the line was curved towards Somalia.
Kenya wanted the border to be based on the slope of the curve to be diverted to Somalia, which would have lost a large area of 100,000 square kilometers.
The Kenyan government has previously said it will not recognize the tribunal’s decision, saying it has rejected the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) jurisdiction to hear the case, and has said it has withdrawn from the court.
“In addition to withdrawing from the case, Kenya will also join other UN member states in revoking the court’s mandatory recognition,” the Kenyan foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Kenya has complained that the tribunal is biased and inappropriate in resolving the case.
Kenya in March this year boycotted the final hearing of the case after the ICJ refused to adjourn the case again, at the request of Nairobi.
The Court said that it was not convinced by Kenya’s argument that the new maritime boundary would have catastrophic effects on the livelihood and economic wellbeing of Kenyan’s.
The court asked that both Somalia and Kenya accept the ruling and each other’s sovereignty.