Somalia has rejected the request by the African Union (AU) to intervene in the country’s maritime dispute with Kenya.
The maritime dispute between Somalia and Kenya has dragged on for almost three years now.
Somalia took Kenya to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking the global court’s intervention over the controversial maritime dispute.
In March 2021, ICJ heard the matter in court and is now expected to rule over the issue any time soon.
Mohamed Abdirizak, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, rejected reports that Mogadishu welcomes any external intervention on the issue.
He reiterated the country’s desire to wait for ICJ’s determination only.
Abdirizak said that Somalia has full confidence in ICJ, which he called an independent arbiter capable of resolving the matter expeditiously.”
“Somalia is not ready to allow the AU to meddle in the maritime issue,” Abdirizak said.
Abdirizak’s sentiments echo those by Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo who has repeatedly said that his country won’t welcome all other interventions outside of the ICJ.