Kenya and Somalia have been engaged in a long maritime row, and it appears no one is willing to budge for the other.
You will recall that some leaders across the continent have tried to intervene in the matter in fostering a lasting solution to the tensions between the neighbours. Despite the meetings between President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, no tangible progress is evident in their strained relationship.
After their last peace agreement meeting credited to Egypt’s President Abdelfattah al-Sis in New York after the last UN General Assembly, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo said he was still bent on allowing the International Court of Justice intervenes in the maritime row between both countries.
This came after Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had organized a similar meeting a few months prior.
However, it appears both leaders are ready to consider an agreement on the matter after both President Kenyatta and President Farmaajo met yesterday in Nairobi.
After the meeting, the leaders informed the press that they were prepared to normalize relations between both countries.
Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somali counterpart Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo reaffirmed the invaluable relations between the two neighbours during a joint press conference after a closed-door meeting.
The Somali leader was part of world leaders who were in Kenya for the just-ended International Conference on Population and Development. This years’ was the 25th edition.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs chief, Monica Juma wrote on Twitter: “The two principals agreed to bring normality to our bilateral relations and do everything to ensure peaceful relations including obtaining visas on arrival to encourage free movement of our people.”
The Somali leader also expressed gratitude to Kenya for its role in AMISOM, the African Union peacekeeping mission fighting insurgent group, Al-Shabaab and its role in sheltering Somali refugees fleeing conflict back home.
On the issue of the maritime boundary, Farmaajo said he had confidence that the International Court of justice, ICJ, seized with the matter will deliver a mutually acceptable resolution when it rules on the case in the months ahead.
Header Image Credit: Garowe Online