Tension is rocking Kenya and Somalia over escalating border row at the oil deposits of Indian Ocean, following withdrawal of both countries from out of court settlement initiated several months ago.
And as such, the dispute involving a large strip of Indian Ocean, will now end at the International Court of Justice at the Hague, reviving bitter rivalry between the two neighbours which was temporarily put on hold in 2016 to allow out of court settlement.
While Nairobi insists that the Marine border should be parallel Eastwards, Mogadishu insists that it must be Southwards, contradicting the colonial map approach, thus the crisis.
Article 76 of the UNCLOS treaty signed in 1982 says: “The continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the land mass of the coastal State, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise.”
In February this year, Kenya withdrew her ambassador to Mogadishu before forcing the Somalia envoy out of Nairobi in what Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma said would allow the two nations to 'consult'.
On Thursday, officials at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) declined to comment on whether the surprise retreat of troops to the border is part of the strategy. On Tuesday, the Nation exclusively reported that Kenyan troops had abandoned their bases in Bursar, Bardera, El Adde, Taraka and Fafadun.
The exit of Kenyan troops now under AMISOM speaks volumes even as President Uhuru Kenyatta remained mum over the escalating dispute that could hinder peace progress in war torn Somalia.
Three weeks ago, Somalia President Mohammed Farmajo met President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi but their talks seemed to have hit dead end. While Farmajo released a statement, State House in Nairobi declined to comment.
“The agenda of the talks included a diplomatic solution and the president has agreed to restore and strengthen ties and co-operation between the two countries based on mutual respect and co-operation in the areas of security, economy, human trafficking and trade,” said Mr Farmaajo.
Nairobi has accused Mogadishu of auctioning the oil wells in Indian Ocean in London without consultations, a move which triggered withdrawal of envoys from either side.