Saturday, May 16, 2009

Somali Diasporas condemn the violation of Somalia’s territorial waters by Kenya

Somali Diasporas condemn the violation of Somalia’s territorial

waters by Kenya, assisted by Norway and the UN

Representatives from influential Somali Diaspora organizations in Europe and North America herewith

express their deep concern and dissatisfaction with the recurring extra-judiciary actions of some

neighbouring countries against the interests of the war-torn beleaguered country of Somalia. We abhor and unreservedly denounce dishonourable attempts by the government of Kenya, in close cooperation with the Government of Norway- in violating UN laws of sea convention by submitting ill-advised proposal to the

UN. This unacceptable manoeuvre by Kenya raises doubts and claims on larger sections of the continental

shelf of Somali territorial waters bordering Kenya. We equally deplore the support, legal advice and financial assistance offered to Kenya by core European states led by Norway.

According some credible confirmed reports, Kenya with Norway's and the UN's assistance has filed a

"Memorandum of Understanding" between itself and the "Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic". With this initiative, the Kenyan authorities might prematurely conclude that as the attention of the Somalis and the world is directed to the conflict in Somalia, when the country recovers, it will be too late to object Kenya's claim to future undersea oil drilling rights. In addition the related 15-page memo makes the UN's and Norway's role clear. It recites that Special Representative of the Secretary General Ahmedou Ould Abdallah:

"initiated the preparation of preliminary information indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf of Somalia beyond 200 nautical miles... In the preparation of this material the SRSG accepted an offer of assistance from the Government of Norway... Both the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate have been involved in the preparation... All of the expenses related to the preparation of the present submission have been covered by the Government of Norway."

On behalf of the Somalis in general and those in the diaspora in particular we strongly declare and insist that the sea and the land of Somalia belong to Somalis, all Somalis. No one else have therefore the authority to claim or commercialize any part of the country including territorial waters.

It is exceptionally disgraceful that Norway, with an advanced democracy and relatively positive global

record and the UN system, that many Somalis expect safeguard ethical and international legal

responsibilities, contribute to the unfolding conspiracy of bogus maritime agreement, thereby taking

advantage of Somalia’s current unfortunate political turbulence. We call for both the UN and the

government of Norway to firmly oppose and strongly reject any such attempts by the government of Kenya or any other country to occupy and tear off substantial part of Somali territorial waters.

Finally the least Somalia now needs is additional atrocities and new cycle of hostilities on top of the

decades long devastating civil war maintained mainly by external manipulation coupled with internal brutal warlordism. The UN, other international agencies and Norway should instead come to the rescue of war-ravaged Somali people in their efforts of creating viable peace. This joint statement is the result of debates, teleconferences and consultations among major Somali

Diaspora associations in the US, UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and other countries in the EU. For further information please contact: coordinator; Abdulqani Qorane; abdiqanim@hotmail.com

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