This archive report was first published on 29 June 2019.
On June 29, 2019, Kenya's Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma warned that the maritime boundary dispute with Somalia is being fueled by commercial interests, which could undermine security cooperation between the two nations.
In a lecture at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Dr. Juma stated that foreign entities interested in oil and natural gas are taking advantage of Somalia's weaknesses, potentially forcing the region to lose focus on the fight against terror and sea piracy. Kenya has had troops in Somalia since October 2011 as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia, which is fighting the terror group Al-Shabaab.
Maritime Boundary Dispute ¶
The dispute, which is now the subject of a case at the International Court of Justice, centers on the maritime boundary between Kenya and Somalia. Somalia has sued Kenya, demanding that the current sea boundary be redrawn to run diagonal, extending from the land border, rather than eastwards south of Kiunga. The hearing is set for September 9, 2019.
Dr. Juma argued that the dispute has been influenced by foreign commercial bodies, which have been prospecting for oil and gas in the contested area. She cited the example of Norwegian firm DNO, which used contested maps to determine oil stock, prompting Kenya to protest to Norway. Another Norwegian consulting firm, Spectrum Geo, caused a stir after Mogadishu used its data to market oil stock to investors.
Security Cooperation at Risk ¶
Dr. Juma warned that the commercial interests driving the dispute could jeopardize security cooperation between Kenya and Somalia, as well as revival efforts within Somalia itself. She noted that foreign bodies are targeting specific units of the Somali government to destabilize it, creating opportunities for negative forces such as Al-Shabaab.
In 2018, Mogadishu cancelled a deal between Puntland and Dubai firm DP World, saying it violated territorial integrity. The Somali Parliament subsequently banned DP World from doing business on its soil, nullifying 30-year concession deals for managing Bossaso port in Puntland and Berbera in Somaliland.
Dr. Juma's speech at the Royal United Services Institute signals another bid by Nairobi to find a political solution to the dispute, rather than relying on a courtroom decision. She urged Western commercial interests to refrain from delaying the settlement of the dispute by entering agreements with either party.
