US Think Tank Sides with Kenya in Maritime Border Row with Somalia

A US think tank has taken Kenya's side in the ongoing maritime border dispute with neighboring Somalia.

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a Washington think tank with influence inside President Trump's administration, has taken issue with Somalia's decision to auction oil and gas blocks located in the disputed territory.

"The move by Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed alias Farmajo, damages Somalia's “already-atrocious reputation for business climate,” AEI resident scholar Michael Rubin writes in a blog post.

“Nor does Somalia’s actions make sense while still dependent upon Amisom — and Kenya’s contribution to it — for basic security,” Rubin adds.

“The Somalia government should know, that after decades of disaster, quick riches and short-term cash can come at a price too high to bear.”

AEI generally takes a pro-business stance on issues and often finds favor with Republican members of the US Congress as well as with the White House.

"President Farmajo has put his country in the position of seeming to thumb its nose at the International Court of Justice process that Somalia initiated in 2014," Rubin further says.

Somalia moved to the Hague-based ICJ after talks between the two countries over who owns the disputed 100,000 square kilometers of sea bed rich in oil and gas deposits, broke down.

“Farmajo may see oil as a means to rescue Somalia’s moribund economy, but production of oil absent capacity can actually make matters worse,” Rubin notes.

“Perhaps a wiser course would be to let the ICJ process continue until its end.”

"Even after the ICJ eventually rules on the dispute, it will be uncertain that Somalia has the ability to defend its waters and that Kenya will concede if the case goes against Nairobi,” the AEI says 

Rubin makes reference to two other international maritime border rows that support Kenya's position.

He cites the maritime border dispute between Turkey and Cyprus as well as one pitting Israel and Lebanon.

Last month, Kenya was angered by Somalia's attempt to auction the oil and gas blocks located in the territory. Somalia has since denied ever trying to sell the blocks.