International court backs Somalia in sea dispute with Kenya – NewsNation Now

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Worldwide Courtroom of Justice has sided with Somalia in its dispute with neighboring Kenya over a maritime boundary in a case affecting a territory probably wealthy in oil and gasoline.

The ruling on Tuesday by the United Nations’ highest courtroom is legally binding, although the courtroom has no enforcement powers. The courtroom rejected Kenya’s declare of the maritime boundary it sought, saying Kenya had not constantly maintained it. The courtroom as an alternative leaned nearer to Somalia’s declare of a straight line into the Indian Ocean from their border.

However the courtroom rejected Somalia’s pursuit of reparations after the nation alleged that a few of Kenya’s maritime actions had violated its sovereignty.

Kenya final week stated it will not acknowledge the courtroom’s judgment, alleging that the judicial course of had “apparent and inherent bias.” Its assertion acknowledged that the judgment would have “profound safety, political, social and financial ramifications within the area and past,” whereas urging Kenyans to stay calm.

Somalia filed the ICJ case over the international locations’ maritime boundary in 2014, contributing to their strained relations.

The courtroom based mostly at The Hague famous that it “can not ignore the context of the civil struggle” that destabilized Somalia for years and restricted its authorities capabilities. It additionally discovered “no compelling proof that Somalia has acquiesced” to Kenya’s declare of a maritime boundary alongside a parallel line of latitude.