Somalia has sacked the lead lawyer in the maritime dispute with Kenya, months before the commencement of the case at The Hague, Somalia's Radio Garowe has reported.
Mr Ahmed Ali Dahir, who has been serving as Attorney General in the war torn nation since 2014, was relieved off his duties on Monday by President Mohammed Farmajo.
It's believed that Dahir, who has been the lead lawyer in Indian Ocean maritime dispute with Kenya, was sacked following an advise by Chief Justice Yusuf Ahmed, who accuses him of sabotaging reforms.
Farmajo has since replaced Dahir with another top lawyer, Suleyman Mohamud, who will now take over the case at The Hague.
In September, President Uhuru Kenyatta met Farmajo in New York but the Somalia leader refused to withdraw the case from The Hague for dialogue.
“We agreed to restore our good relationships in strengthening diplomatic and political cooperation and leave the maritime dispute between the two countries to be resolved by the International Court of Justice," Farmajo said.
International Court of Justice has scheduled June 2020 for the official commencement of the case between the two countries.
Last week, Uhuru and Farmajo met in Nairobi where they agreed to normalise bilateral relationship without necessarily considering ICJ battle.
“The two principals agreed to bring normality to our bilateral relations and do everything to ensure peaceful relations including obtaining visas on arrival to encourage free movement of our people,” Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma revealed.
In September, Kenya had also sacked six of her lawyers, leading to postponement of the case.
Attorney General Kihara Kariuki is the lead counsel in the case.