Kenya and Somalia have resolved issues after a diplomatic row erupted over a maritime territorial area in the Indian Ocean that resulted to both ambassadors recalled back to their countries for further consultations.
Somalia President Farmaajo and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta further agreed to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries and have their respective ambassadors return to their work stations & resume duty.
Presidents @M_Farmaajo and President @UKenyatta agree to strengthen diplomatic ties between their two countries. Also agreed to have their respective ambassadors return to their work stations & resume duty. The spat is over. Great news for both Kenya, Somalia Thanks to PM Abiy. pic.twitter.com/IRDuCNuky4— Ahmed Mohamed ((ASMALi)) (@Asmali77) March 6, 2019
Nairobi had recalled its ambassador in Mogadishu, Lt Gen (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo, stating that Somalia’s decision to auction an oil block in London last week amounted to aggression against Kenyans and their resources.
Consequently, Nairobi sent away the Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Nur and escalated an ongoing case at The Hague into a political battle between Nairobi and Mogadishu.
“This outrageous and provocative auction deserves and will be met by a unanimous and resounding rejection by all Kenyans, as well as people of goodwill who believe in the maintenance of international law and order, and the peaceful and legal resolution of disputes,” Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau said in a tough statement.
“By carelessly ignoring the internationally-acceptable norms of boundary dispute resolution and or political and diplomatic disagreements, the government of Somalia has demonstrated that it has yet to attain and embrace political maturity and diplomatic stance of a normal, well-adjusted and properly functioning modern state,” the Principal Secretary said.
At the centre of the dispute is a narrow triangle on the Indian Ocean measuring 62,000 square miles. It is not yet clear to which country it belongs, but it is believed to hold large deposits of oil and gas.