The American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a Washington-based policy research organization with ties to the Trump administration, has publicly supported Kenya in its maritime boundary dispute with Somalia. AEI's analysis focuses on Somalia's recent decision to auction oil and gas exploration rights in the Indian Ocean, a region also claimed by Kenya.
In a statement, AEI resident scholar Michael Rubin argued that Somalia's actions undermine its credibility as an investment destination. He noted that the 2014 International Court of Justice (ICJ) process, initiated by Somalia to resolve the 100,000-square-kilometer maritime boundary dispute, remains unresolved. Rubin emphasized that Somalia's current approach risks damaging its economic prospects and complicates its reliance on regional security partnerships.
"The Somalia government should recognize that decades of instability and short-term financial gains can have severe long-term consequences," Rubin wrote. He urged Somalia to prioritize the ICJ process over immediate resource extraction, warning that oil production without infrastructure could worsen economic challenges.
AEI's stance reflects its broader pro-business perspective, which often resonates with Republican lawmakers and White House officials. The think tank also raised doubts about Somalia's ability to enforce maritime claims and Kenya's willingness to concede if the ICJ rules against it.
