This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
On September 27, 2019, Somalia President Mohamed Farmaajo addressed the United Nations General Assembly, marking his first appearance since his election in 2017.
During his address, President Farmaajo rejected Kenya's call for talks on the maritime boundary dispute in the Indian Ocean, citing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the ultimate arbiter.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier expressed openness to dialogue, emphasizing the importance of finding a solution through talks.
However, President Farmaajo stated that bilateral negotiations had collapsed, and Somalia had instituted proceedings before the ICJ in 2014, in accordance with international law.
He expressed confidence in the ICJ's ability to resolve the dispute, saying, "We are very pleased that the court found that it had jurisdiction to resolve the dispute and that is scheduled for the final hearing for the merit case in November this year."
President Farmaajo also rejected the African Union's push for dialogue, stating that the AU had no capacity to intervene in the case before the UN court.
He added that Somalia was committed to maintaining a good relationship with Kenya, provided that the boundary was solved in court.
President Farmaajo's stance on the maritime dispute is seen as a significant development, particularly in the context of the upcoming 2021 elections in Somalia.
