Maritime dispute and its implication on Kenya-Somalia relations

Abstract

Kenya and Somalia are at a position of having the best of diplomatic relations between them. For instance the two countries share along border with very many similar ethnic groups, cultural similarity and the same political interest of having a stable government in Somalia which can effectively fight terrorism and other security threats. Economic prosperity in each country will benefit the other. The two countries are members of African Union which promotes peaceful resolution of disputes. However, this is not the case, because Somalia has taken adversarial position regarding the maritime dispute by going to International Criminal Court. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the maritime disputes on Kenya- Somali relations. The specific objectives of the study included; to analyze the historical diplomatic relationships between Kenya and Somalia, to assess the genesis of the maritime border dispute between Kenya and Somalia and to evaluate the different strategies that have been deployed in resolving the disputes and their implications for diplomatic relations between Kenya and Somalia. This study employed an exploratory research design. Given that this research used secondary sources of data, particularly desktop research, the instrument used in collecting data was a datasheet which was designed by the researcher to come up with comprehensive conclusions. The sources of data for this research were scholarly publications, the internet, newspapers, journals and unclassified government documents, libraries and review articles. The analysis was qualitative since the data collected was secondary in nature and thus is descriptive in nature. The research is based on qualitative method of analysis firstly, because it enables the researcher to investigate issues in an-depth way and allows the researcher to gain insight into what other scholars have written on the research topic. The study findings revealed that the strained relations between Kenya and Somalia can also be traced back to the period after Somalia’s independence. Somalia’s five pointed star has meant the existence of Somali irredentism for nationalists who claimed an expanded Somalia; the star represents the five territories of Somalia, one of which is Northern Kenya. This orientation, led to numerous skirmishes between the rebel group shifta and Kenyan security forces. For many years, Kenya and Somalia have enjoyed good relations. Most of Somalia refugees have settled in Kenya and our Kenyan troops are serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which is helping the government of President Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo battle the Al Shabaab. Unfortunately, the bonds that have held Kenya and Somalia for decades are breaking each day because of the long-standing Maritime dispute over the Indian Ocean. The study recommends that both countries should refrain from any actions that could exacerbate the current crisis. They should restore diplomatic relations and cooperation activities. The two countries can explore the option of a sharing and co-operation arrangement for developing the resources in this disputed oil-rich zone. Such an arrangement can borrow from a similar case between Nigeria and São Tome and Principe that culminated in a joint development zone that has enabled the two countries to share their oil and gas resources.