THE HAGUE, 15 March, 2021 (TON): The Kenyan government announced on Sunday, Kenya will not join in the hearings that will start on Monday at the ICJ (International Cout of Justice) on its border dispute with Somalia.

On Thursday, Kenya sent a letter to the ICJ saying it would inform the court that it will not participate in the hearings on the case, scheduled to start on 15 March.

Various reasons for not participating in the hearing were enlisted in the letter by Kenya’s Attorney General Kihara Kariuki, saying, "Firstly, the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic hampered Kenya's ability to adequately prepare for the hearing."

"Kenya humbly requests the Court to allow it's (representative) to address the Court orally for 30 minutes before the start of the hearings," the text continued.

The country also criticizes the fact that some of the hearings are being held virtually, saying that this does not allow it to defend itself in the best possible way.

The country adds, “It is willing to submit its position to the Court in writing, even if the hearings will be held without the participation of Kenya".

For several years over the delineation of their Indian Ocean border, Somalia and Kenya have been in tension.

Their maritime border has an area of 100, 000 km2, rich in fish and hydrocarbons.   

However, the border dispute between the two sides has always arisen tensions, as in December Somalia announced breaking diplomatic relations with Kenya, in response Kenya in February recalled its ambassador and accused Somalia of auctioning oil and gas fields in the area.