ICJ sets date for hearing of maritime case between Somalia and Kenya

HAGUE - The International Court of Justice [ICJ] has set time for the hearing of the maritime border row between Kenya and Somalia which will take place in a fortnight, days after Nairobi's quest for the postponement was rejected.

In a statement on Monday, ICJ said that care will kick off on March 15, 2021, from 3 pm Netherlands time, and both parties are expected to file submissions for determination. This will be 5 pm local time in both Kenya and Somalia since they share time zones.

"Public hearings in the case concerning Maritime Delimitation in the Indian Ocean [Somalia v. Kenya] will open at 3 p.m. on Monday 15 March 2021 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court," read a dispatch from the international court cases at The Hague.

Kenya had three previous postponement requests honored but the latest one was rejected. In the quest, Nairobi cited a missing map and COVID-19 pandemic as the major reasons for the request but the court declined, arguing that sittings can be held virtually.

The ICJ says the hearing will be held in a hybrid manner, which means some members will be in court while others will be following the event online. A video link for the virtual hearing has since been shared by the court.

"In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the hearings will be held in a hybrid format. Some members of the Court will attend the oral proceedings in person in the Great Hall of Justice while others will participate remotely by video link," the ICJ said, adding that representatives of the Parties to the case will participate either in person or by video link.

Guidelines for the Parties on the organization of hearings by video link can be found on the Court’s website, ICJ said, in a court which could significantly affect the geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa.

Somalia and Kenya have been battling over the border row for the last eight years and efforts to have an out-of-court settlement backfired. During the proceedings, ICJ noted, the media and members of the diplomatic corps will be allowed to follow.

"Members of the diplomatic corps, the media, and the public will be able to follow the hearings through a live webcast on the Court’s website, as well as on UN Web TV, the United Nations online television channel.

The full schedule for the hearings will be announced in due course," added the statement.

GAROWE ONLINE