Top Kenya and Somalia officials meet weeks after ICJ judgement

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A delegation led by Kenya's ambassador to Somalia Lt. General [Rtd] Lucas Tumbo met for the first time with Somalia's Foreign Affairs team, days after the International Court of Justice [ICJ] issued judgment on maritime border row between the two nations.

Somalia's team was led by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamud, who has been very vocal on the maritime dispute, which has significantly derailed the relationship between the two nations.

Officials said the meeting was meant to establish a joint commission for cooperation which was agreed upon when Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble held a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya.

Roble's trip to Nairobi came weeks before the ICJ ruling which has further strained relations between the two countries. Already, Kenya has vowed not to accept the ICJ ruling, arguing that it was biased.

"The Foreign Ministers of Somalia and Kenya agreed, in their meeting in Mogadishu, to expedite the third session of the Joint Committee to move forward in areas of common interest, including trade, investment, security, defense, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people relations."

On the other hand, Somalia has urged Kenya to accept the ruling of the court, noting that the East Africa nation should focus on living without criticizing the ICJ. It's not clear what steps Nairobi will take but the matter might end up at the United Nations Security Council [UNSC].

With Kenya insisting that it won't cede even an inch of the disputed area, there have been background meetings mainly brokered by international teams, which are keen to reconcile the two nations. Under the reigns of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, Kenya's relationship with Somalia has hit the bottom low.

Besides the maritime dispute, the two nations have been battling over the administration of Jubaland, which closely works with Nairobi. Jubaland's leadership has been instrumental to Kenya particularly in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE