A dispute over a maritime border between Kenya and Somalia has escalated forcing Kenya to recall its ambassador to Somalia.
The Kenyan foreign ministry confirmed the recall after Somalia auctioned oil and gas exploration blocks at the centre of the dispute.
The oil blocks are situated in the Indian Ocean with both countries laying claim to them. They were auctioned on February 7.
Kenya said it expressed its concerns about auctioning blocks involved in the border dispute but Somalia ignored them.
The dispute is currently being resolved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Somalia first lodged the complaints over the maritime boundaries in 2014. It had then negotiated over the 100,000 square kilometres area with the oil deposit.
The final ruling will significantly impact on the revenue both countries could secure from oil and gas exploration.
Kenya on Saturday revealed that its ambassador in Mogadishu, Lucas Tumbo has been summoned back home.
Meanwhile Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Mohammed Muhamud Nur has also been asked to return to Mogadishu.
The Kenyan ministry statement said “The summons is a consequence of a most regretful and egregious decision by the government of Somalia to auction off oil and gas blocks in Kenya’s maritime territorial area.”
“This unparalleled affront and illegal grab at the resources of Kenya will not go unanswered and is tantamount to an act of aggression against the people of Kenya and their resources,” the statement added.
There are fears the current maritime border dispute could impact negatively efforts to deal with terrorism in the East African region.
Both countries have for years been collaborating on this mission.
Source: Africafeeds.com
