Summary
The yet-to-be-resolved dispute between Kenya and Somalia over an area in the Indian Ocean that both states claim continues to capture the imagination of the citizens of both countries. This Kenya v. Somalia case has been before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since 2014, and its determination is expected in September 2019 (now postponed to November 2019). This report, which is a key output of a recently concluded Experts’ Symposium on maritime border challenges, provides a brief background to this dispute.
This overview is followed by a discussion of several themes that include the importance (geo-strategic, military, commercial, or otherwise) of the maritime domain, with specific focus on the Horn of Africa region. Mention is also made of the parties to the dispute (Kenya, Somalia, the ICJ, and states interested in the region), and the options available for its resolution (peaceful and/or coercive). ICJ’s ruling will redefine Kenya Somalia relations, which is why both countries should work toward a negotiated settlement, for the peace and stability of the region. In the absence of a negotiated agreement, and if all other efforts to resolve this dispute fail, more challenges will emerge, exacerbating existing conflicts in an already tense region.
