This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Kenya is currently engaged in a maritime territory dispute with Somalia, a case that was initially set to be heard by the International Court of Justice from September 9th to 11th, but was postponed to November 4th after Kenya requested additional time to assemble a new legal defense team.
Published on September 20, 2019, the case has garnered significant attention, with Kenya now opting for an out-of-court settlement due to its potential to yield a lasting and peaceful resolution for both countries.
The preferred framework for the settlement is also supported by the United Nations, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The disputed area spans approximately 100,000 square kilometers of water, which is believed to contain hydrocarbons and fish resources.
Kenya is advocating for the maritime border to run along a parallel latitude, south-east of Kiunga, while Somalia is pushing for a diagonal line along the Kenyan coast.
This disagreement poses a significant threat to Kenya's maritime territory, potentially making the country landlocked and resulting in the loss of 42% of its maritime territory.
