Thursday June 13, 2019
Wainaina Wambu
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale (pictured) has called for an amicable solution to the diplomatic spat between Kenya and Somalia.
He said Kenya and Somalia have enjoyed a long-standing bond that shouldn’t be undermined by a border dispute.
Addressing journalists in Nairobi yesterday, the Garissa Township MP called on President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somalia counterpart Abdullahi Farmajo to consider ‘brotherhood and neighbourhood’ in ironing out whatever issues have caused the dispute.
“For three decades, Kenya has invested heavily in Somalia, including security and hosting of refugees. Let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water,” he said.
He said Kenya’s territorial interests will not be compromised. “A lot is at stake and we need a solution. The standoff is unhealthy. We have more issues to agree on,” he said.
Duale, the senior most Somali political leader in Kenya today, said the The Hague-based International Court of Justice may not be a sure solution to the maritime dispute.
Somalia has sued Kenya in the row that has been simmering for years now.
The two countries and not a third party, he said, hold the key to solving the stalemate.
Mr Duale called for goodwill from the two nations in search of a solution.
“I am a Kenyan Somali but I am part and parcel of the Kenyan nation. No country can slice away a chunk of our country be it on land or sea. Somalia is our younger brother and we would like this issue resolved diplomatically,” said Duale.
Renewed conflict over maritime boundary in the Indian Ocean has seen the countries trade barbs.
Recently, Somalia announced its representatives would no longer attend regional meetings in Nairobi. Kenya, on the other hand, has slapped tough travel regulations on Somali nationals crossing into Kenya.