The International Court of Justice granted Kenya’s plea to delay the hearing set for September 9. Kenya had requested more time to recruit a new defense team before the hearing. The hearing over the maritime border will now start on November 4, two months later than its scheduled date.
The postponement follows a rejection of Kenya’s request to solve the case through alternative platforms such as the African Union.
According to CGTN, the dispute surrounds the right of ownership of a 150, 000 kilometres square of mineral-rich coastline. Somalia took Kenya to court in 2014 to challenge a prior agreement that set its maritime border along latitudinal lines.
As we approach the new date of the hearing, AU plans to offer an amicable solution to the border row. A statement reads, “The African Union’s Peace and Security Council plans to appoint a mediator to help find “an amicable and sustainable settlement, in consultation and collaboration with the relevant regional mechanisms.”
SEE ALSO: Somalia joins DR Congo in seeking to join East African Community.
Kenya and Somalia earlier engaged passive-aggressive diplomatic chess wars amid the hearing. Earlier this year, Kenya expelled Somalia’s envoy in Nairobi. Later, the country halted direct flights from Somalia to Nairobi.
In response, Somalia banned Kenya’ based NGO’s from working within the country.
