This archive report was first published on 28 September 2019.
As the African Union chair, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, facilitated a meeting between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo in New York, a glimmer of hope emerged for a resolution to the long-standing maritime border dispute between the two nations.
The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2019, marked the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since March. While it may not have produced an immediate settlement, it did secure a commitment to constructive engagement and the normalisation of some aspects of bilateral relations.
However, Farmaajo's insistence on a legal solution to the maritime case may leave a bitter taste in the aftermath, especially if the court's ruling does not favour Somalia. It is essential for both nations to think beyond their current imperatives and consider a third way to resolve the dispute.
History has shown that territorial conflicts can be protracted and costly. The Nairobi-Mogadishu maritime border dispute has been ongoing since 2014, with no end in sight. With Amisom's return to Somalia and the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, the last thing East Africa needs is a new flashpoint.
Therefore, Farmaajo should de-link the territorial dispute from the 2021 election discourse and consider concessions that could meet both nations halfway. By doing so, they can create a conducive environment for a less emotive approach to the dispute and avoid a potentially explosive outcome.
