Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed mediated discussions between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo on the contentious Indian Ocean maritime boundary dispute, according to multiple statements from the Ethiopian government.
The talks occurred in Nairobi, with Abiy overseeing negotiations between the two leaders amid ongoing tensions over oil exploration rights. Both nations affirmed commitments to resolving the dispute through dialogue rather than judicial mechanisms, though Kenya has previously signaled openness to International Court of Justice proceedings.
Abiy's involvement followed a series of bilateral meetings with Kenyan and Somali officials. Kenyatta had earlier visited Addis Ababa for a trade forum and industrial park inauguration, where he emphasized strengthening economic ties with Ethiopia. The Somali president's recent one-day visit to Ethiopia focused on regional security, cross-border trade, and relations with Somaliland.
The dispute escalated in February when Kenya accused Somalia of auctioning Kenyan oil blocks in London, a claim Somalia denied. Kenya's Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma reiterated the government's stance against ceding territory, while Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted the matter would be resolved through international law.
Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau previously argued against litigation, stating, "Do you take your friend to court? It is better to discuss." The 2012 Special Status Agreement between Kenya and Ethiopia remains a framework for cross-border trade development in the Moyale region.
