Kenyan foreign ministry on Friday rejected the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ahead of a ruling next week on its maritime border dispute with Somalia, reported Africa News.
Kenya and Somalia have had a sour relationship for years over a stretch of the Indian Ocean claimed by both nations. The issue is related to a 150,000 square-kilometer (58,000 square-mile) area.
Somalia wants to extend its maritime frontier with Kenya along the line of the land border, in a south-easterly direction, while Kenya wants the border to head out to sea in a straight line east.
“In addition to withdrawing its participation from the current case, Kenya… also joined many other members of the United Nations in withdrawing its recognition of the court’s compulsory jurisdiction,” the Kenyan foreign ministry said.
In March, Kenya said it would boycott the case hearings at the ICJ after the court refused to allow further delays.
The Kenyan foreign ministry said the ICJ’s final judgment on the matter will be based on a biased judicial process that the country has had reservations with, and has already withdrawn from. It accused the court of obvious and inherent bias in resolving the dispute.
“As a sovereign nation, Kenya shall no longer be subjected to an international court or tribunal without its express consent,” the ministry said.
The bench of 13 judges, presided over by Joan Donoghue, will give its final verdict on the matter on Tuesday and is expected to issue instructions on what the two countries must do. The ICJ judgments are usually binding on countries and they even don’t have an option for appeal.
In 2019, the Kenyan government had called back the ambassador to Somalia after accusing the neighboring country of selling off oil and gas blocks in the contested area. In 2020, Somalia had cut diplomatic ties with Nairobi after the neighboring country hosted the leadership of Somaliland, a breakaway state not recognised by Mogadishu.
