Discussing maritime resources or blue economy with Kenya without finding a lasting solutions to underlying issues could be disaster for Somalia.
As we know, Kenyan foreign affair minister Ambassador Raychelle Omamo has on Sunday arrived in Mogadishu to have bilateral talks with Somali officials.
The Kenyan delegation was welcomed by Abdirazak Mohamed, Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister and other senior government officials.
Ambassador Omamo held talks with her counterpart Mohamed Abdirizak, the two officials discussed a broad range of issues relevant to the interests of the two countries.
She also met with Prime Minister Mohamed H. Roble, and later hold talks with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
In a official 10 point communique issued after the meetings, the two countries agreed to improve their relations and specially in the areas of diplomacy, trade and security.
Ambassador Omamo also delivered an official invitation extended by Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta to Somalia’s prime minister to visit Nairobi.
Although prime minister Rooble reiterated that the maritime case between Somalia and Kenya awaits a decision from the international court of justice, some of the topics discussed raised serious questions about the prime minister’s intentions.
The first point in the communique released after today’s discussion states that the two countries agreed to expeditiously organize the 3rd Session of the Somalia-Kenya Joint Commission for Cooperation, the joint framework through which the two countries will undertake comprehensive discussions and develop clear modalities for implementing commitments in the areas of mutual interest including: Diplomatic Relations; Trade and Investment; Education and Capacity Building; Agriculture, Livestock Development Fisheries and the Blue Economy; Defence and Security; Tourism; and People-to-People interactions.
The prime minister agreed to discuss and develop clear modalities for Implementing commitments in the areas of mutual interest such as fisheries and blue economy.
That statement is very dangerous and can aid Kenya’s longterm startegy to create confusion and finally derail the maritime case at the ICJ.
Blue economy industry includes offshore hydrocarbon, energy, tourism, maritime transport, shipping and fishing sectors.
Prime minister Mohammed H. Rooble is trying very hard to quickly normalize Somalia’s relations with Kenya. But we have to ask ourselves what caused the diplomatic relations between the two countries to deteriorat e in the first place?
There are some outstanding issues that need to be solved before normalizing the relationship with Kenya let alone having discussions about blue economy, issues such as maritime case, KDF presence in southern Somalia and the constant interference in Somalia’s internal affairs especially in Jubaland administration.
Kenya started to claim part of Somalia’s maritime territory in 2009 after signing a MoU with then minister of planning and international cooperation H.E Abdirahman Abdishakur.
In 2011 KDF invaded and captured Lower Jubba region from Al Shabab without the permission of Somali government at that time.
Kenya also played a big role in the formation of the current Jubaland state in 2013 (which it considers a buffer zone project) with the help of IGAD against the wishes of Somali government.
But the main reason behind KDF invasion and subsequent occupation of Jubaland state is to use the state as a bargain chip or leverage in possible negotiations with the Somali government authorities.
Without solving these outstanding issues, it is difficult to have and maintain good relations with Kenya and the prime minister needs to realise that.
The areas that the prime minister is currently focusing in his engagement with Kenya have the potential to harm Somalia’s national interests.
Most of these issues at hand only favour Kenya’s interests because PM Rooble is opening up Somali markets to Kenyan businesses while Somalis are not getting the same opportunities not to mention the fisheries and blue economy discussions he is planning to have with Kenyan officials.
Nevertheless, the trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries will only thrive when Nairobi stops undermining Somali government by withdraws its troops from Somalia, ceases to claim Somalia’s maritime territories and at the same time give local industries in Somalia access to its markets.
Prime minister Rooble needs to be careful or outrightly avoid discussing topics pertaining to marine resources in the form of “Fisheries and blues economy” in order to protect the interests of Somali people.
