The Kenya-Somalia Historical Relations And The Contemporary Maritime Dispute: Implications For Bilateral Relations And Regional Peace

Abstract

Kenya and Somalia have had a suspicious, cold relationship since independence, exacerbated by the Shifta War between 1963 and 1967. While Kenya had generally pursued a policy of good neighbourliness, it took a more aggressive approach in mid-October 2011, when Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) entered Somalia in hot pursuit of Al Shabaab militants it accused of violating its territorial integrity. In the wake of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling of 12th October 2021 that awarded the large portion of the disputed maritime zone to Somalia, and which has been rejected by Kenya, the bilateral relations between Kenya and Somalia deteriorated. This paper reviews existing literature that is analysed and discussed thematically, to explore the evolving nature of the Kenya-Somalia relations, the ICJ maritime ruling and its implications to peace and security of the two countries in particular and the Horn of Africa in general. It concludes that while ICJ ruling may not be appealed and could be deemed final, Kenya and Somalia stand to benefit more should the two states open bilateral negotiations regarding the maritime dispute and other matters of mutual interest.