This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
Published on July 10, 2019, Ethiopia has taken steps to resolve the long-standing maritime border dispute between Kenya and Somalia without jeopardizing fragile diplomatic ties in the region.
According to officials in Nairobi and Mogadishu, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, has scheduled a meeting between Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Mohammed Farmajo for July 13.
However, the meeting is still pending confirmation from the two heads of state, with officials stating that it is subject to their availability.
The development comes amid speculation that Somalia may be willing to consider an out-of-court settlement, a move that would be a departure from its previous stance of taking the matter to the International Court of Justice in 2014.
However, President Farmajo's office has denied any change in Somalia's position on the matter, calling the reports 'malicious media propaganda'.
Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, the director of communications at the Somalia presidency, stated that the office of the Attorney General would investigate the sources of the 'fake news'.
