Somalia Responds to Kenya's Claim of Auctioning Disputed Oil-Rich Blocks

Somalia Responds to Kenya's Claim of Auctioning Disputed Oil-Rich Blocks

The Government of Somalia has issued a communiqué responding to claims by Kenya that it has auctioned oil and gas blocks located in a territory claimed by each of the two countries.

In a detailed statement on Sunday, the Somali government has refuted the claims by Kenya, saying that it has no intention of auctioning oil and gas fields in the disputed maritime zones.

Each of the two countries is claiming about 62,000 square miles of the Indian Ocean, believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.

"Somalia is not now offering, nor does it have any plans to offer, any blocks in the disputed maritime area until the parties’ maritime boundary is decided by the ICJ,” the statement says.

Mogadishu says it can only make moves after the ongoing case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the disputed territory is decided.

“In this respect, the Government of Somalia wishes to reassure the government of Kenya that it stands by its commitment not to undertake any unilateral activities in the disputed zone until such a time as the ICJ renders its judgment,” the statement reads in part.

Somalia further assures that it will fully respect and comply with whatever ruling the international court will make.

On Saturday, Kenya expelled Somali envoy Mohamoud Ahmed Nur and recalled its own envoy to Somalia Lt-Gen (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo.

Somalia further says Kenyans and Somalis share “strong cultural and historical ties that cannot be severed or affected by disagreements among them.”

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya the assurances of the highest consideration.”

Comments

Kenya (not verified)     Sun, 02/17/2019 @ 09:32pm

Somebody is telling a lie. There has to be documents showing who bought those oil field and how much. They want to tell all that was a hoax. Their first lady and ambassador were shipped by overnight mail. They ate breakfast in their airport.

Diana (not verified)     Mon, 02/18/2019 @ 09:04am

The Kenya government is full of thieves, junkies , landgrabbers and they kill Kenyans on regular basis(murderers).

The Somali government does not kill Kenyans.

I support the Somali government 100%.Any friend of local Kenyans is a friend of mine.

MLACHAKE (not verified)     Tue, 02/19/2019 @ 01:36am

In reply to by Jamama (not verified)

So, “Kenya has no case”, really? Somalia takes this whole swathe of territory and Kenya’s left without ...left with option of taking TZ’s territory?? Somalia has always looked for trouble and Kenya HAS NO BUSINESS appearing or even been pulled into a frivolous dispute at the ICJ, period! No appearance and Somalia can go ahead and appear alone and even win the case. But Kenya will NEVER EVER cede an inch of her territory. And if war-like Somalia persists and causes problems (many Islamic countries have this idea they are sooo tough, they can handle the world way they want), Kenya mobilizes to it’s teeth for a final solution in Somalia - completely destroy it. Hawa watu wachokozi too much. Somalia should learn what happened to aggressive & war-like Germany at the end of WW2

SomaliArmy Abdul (not verified)     Mon, 05/18/2020 @ 09:22am

Uhuru is criminal who killed so many Kenyans, we are the ones who manage the entire business and gave opportunity to Kenyans, uhuru did nothing for Kenyans and If uhuru is claiming our homeland just because you thinking white man [ UK ]will help you , you and Kenyans will be in danger and just remember that Somalis are Muslim worriors and fearless!

You can't defeat small unit of Somali forces! LET ALONE ENTIRE SOMALIS ENVADE KENYA!

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