Somalia: Former TFG President dismiss any role in the MoU agreement with Kenya

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Former Transitional Federal government Sharif Shaikh Ahmed, for the first time has made remarks regarding the ongoing case between Somalia and Kenya at the International Courts of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, Garowe Online reports.

During his tenure as President of the Transitional Federal Government in 2009, Somalia’s Planning Minister has signed controversial MoU with Kenya to settle maritime boundary dispute, approved by then Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and the Council of Ministers but later was rejected by Federal Parliament.  

In a press conference held in the capital Mogadishu, Ahmed responded to questions on his role in the signed agreement, he said that he wasn’t involved in the agreement between the two countries.

“The Prime Minister and Planning Minister both gave their clarification, as for me i have not seen or witnessed the signing of the agreement,” said Ahmed.

Ahmed who is a presidential candidate, has dismissed the accusation that he approved the signing of the agreement and said that Prime Minister and Planning Minister should be asked for any inquiry in relation to the agreement.

“If the agreement is for the good interest of the country or not, they are the ones who take the responsibilities,” said Ahmed.

He slammed his rival candidates for misusing the ongoing maritime case in a bid to smear his presidential campaign, and further explained that the agreement doesn’t grant Kenya sovereignty over Somali territorial waters.  

However, Ahmed didn’t endorse the MoU between the two countries but indicated it was in the interest of Somalia to hold talks with Kenya to settle maritime dispute, as it pointed out in the signed MoU.

Somalia and Kenya have concluded their submissions to the court regarding the admissibility of the case, with Kenya arguing it had an agreement with Somalia to resolve the boundary through negotiations, while Somalia saying the agreement did not exclude other methods.

ICJ judges are expected to announce later the verdict on whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the matter or not.

GAROWEONLINE