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We are still engaging Somalia for negotiation over maritime row-Kenyatta


Thursday September 26, 2019


NAIROBI (HOL)
- Kenya pushed for negotiations with Somalia over the maritime dispute set for hearing November 4 amid reports Somalia will rebuff such calls.

Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta told the gathering of world leaders in the 74th session of the UN General Assembly his country was committed to finding a sustainable solution to the dispute which has torn into relations between the two countries.

“My administration still reaches out to the Federal Republic of Somalia in an effort to find an amicable and sustainable solution to the maritime boundary dispute between us,” Kenyatta said noting his administration welcome the outcome of the African Union Peace and Security Council resolution.

The Council mid this month urged the two countries to ‘engage and find a sustainable solution’. Kenyatta added the UN charter and related laws preferred the use of negotiation for settlement of disputes among countries.

“As we all know the UN charter privileges the use of negotiation as the most preferred mechanism for settling for settlement of disputes,” the Kenyan leader argued. “Similarly, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea provides for the delimitation of maritime boundaries between states amicably.”

Speaking a day after a meeting with his Somali counterpart Mohamed Farmaajo, Kenyatta said his administration continues to engage Somalia on the matter.

“It is in this normative framework that Kenya calls for the resolution of this dispute through negotiation and we remain hopeful that the Federal Government of Somalia will be amenable to and committed to the search for a mutually acceptable and sustainable solution to this dispute.”

But sources told HOL Villa Somalia will be challenging the Kenyan leader arguing ‘it respects and commits to international law’.