Kenya' s Desires to "Cut" Somalia's 'Exclusive Economic Zone

[Coeus]

Somalia: The Roadmap Gets a Tear on the EEZ

The road to a permanent constitutional government for “Somali” that has been mapped out by Western ”donor”-powers and is to be implemented by the United Nations, presented its first speed bump in October and the map suffered its first tear, when the country’s Transitional Federal Parliament (T.F.P.) voted 335-0 with no abstentions to approve a six-point resolution including the provision (#2) stipulating that “All transitional constitutional institutions of the country, i.e., presidency, parliament, and government, have no power to change, alter or discuss Somali water, airspace, and land territory borders.”

The T.F.P.’s decision, reached on October 8, was followed on October 11 by its approval by the cabinet of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (T.F.G.), which declared that it would no longer negotiate the issue of the country’s territorial waters within the framework of the Roadmap, which calls for a resolution of that issue by December 19, 2011.


The Clash of Interests

The Roadmap represents the effort of an international coalition, under the aegis of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (U.N.P.O.S.), composed of the Western “donor”-powers (United States, European Union, and Western European states), which provide the bulk of military, economic, and humanitarian aid to “Somalia;” regional African organizations and states; and to a lesser extent Middle Eastern organizations and states, to create a Somali state that can satisfy Western interests (primarily) and regional interests in place of the current political fragmentation in the territories of post-independence Somalia. For the Western “donor”-powers, which lead the effort, the major interest is to draw back from expensive involvement in Somalia, and to leave it, by August 2012, with a government that will cooperate with Western anti-terrorism and anti-piracy campaigns, and that will provide a legal framework for natural-resource investment/exploitation.

As an attempt to provide a comprehensive political formula for “Somalia,” the Roadmap takes in a varying array of issues that the members of the international coalition deem it desirable to resolve in “Somalia’s” “transition” to a permanent government. In the case of the issue of Somalia’s territorial waters (in legal terms, the demarcation of its “Exclusive Economic Zone” (E.E.Z.)), the operative interests are Kenya’s desire to have its maritime boundaries with Somalia demarcated (to have legal sanction for resource development – especially petroleum - in the seabed); Western powers’ desire for resource development favorable to their corporations, and for the facilitation of anti-piracy operations. Both Kenya and the Western powers believe that their particular interests in the disposition of Somalia’s territorial waters are best served by furthering them within the “transitional process,” in which they play a leading role. That is why they have put resolution of the E.E.Z. into the Roadmap.

As the T.F.P.’s and the T.F.G.’s decisions to exclude the issue of Somalia’s territorial waters from the “transitional process” directed/envisioned in the Roadmap show, there is a counter-interest in the protection of Somali discretion over the demarcation of its territorial waters while the country remains politically fragmented and is, therefore, especially vulnerable to external pressures, divide-and-rule tactics, and sectional self-dealing. Indeed, the single national issue that unites Somalis across factions is the disposition of the country’s territorial waters. The depth of sentiment that it awakens indicates that Somali nationalism is more than a residual phenomenon. A divided and fragmented body, the T.F.P. showed the power of nationalism in its unanimous vote on October 8. The T.F.G.’s cabinet had no choice but to follow suit.

The T.F.P. Acts

The T.F.P., which had earlier in 2011 foiled the “donor”-powers’ plan of ending the “transition” and installing a permanent constitutional government in Somalia by August 2011, by extending its term for three years, took the role of resistance to the international coalition once again by intervening in the E.E.Z. issue.

The T.F.P. was impelled to act by an international meeting on anti-piracy cooperation held in the Seychelles in September, at which it was reported and rumored that Somalia’s territorial waters were discussed and, on some accounts, that agreements were signed on Somalia’s E.E.Z. The reports ignited nationalist sentiment in the T.F.P., which met on October 3 to question the T.F.G.’s minister of fishing and sea resources, Abdirahman Sh. Ibrahim, with 290 M.P.s present.

Shabelle Media Network reported that Ibrahim appeared before parliament and was questioned by the session’s chair, Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Abdiweli Sh. Ibrahim Mudey, who asked Ibrahim if Somalia’s territorial waters were discussed at the Seychelles meeting. Ibrahim denied that the E.E.Z. had been broached in the Seychelles and insisted that the meeting was devoted to anti-piracy activities. Mudey responded that Ibrahim’s response was unacceptable and that parliament would send “a letter of charges” to the T.F.G. According to a closed source, Mudey dismissed Ibrahim, saying that parliament would call people who were willing to tell the truth.

Parliament also questioned the T.F.G.’s minister of international cooperation, Abdurrahman Abdishakur Warsame, who said that the previous government of Prime Minister Mohamed Farmajo had signed a deal on territorial waters with Kenya. According to the closed source, Abdishakur said that he had been “forced” to sign the agreement, although he did not know what it stipulated. He was led to understand, he said, that the deal gave Kenya some of the Somali territorial waters.

Parliamentary discussions of the E.E.Z. issue continued on October 4 (300 M.P.’s attending), with Adm. Farah Qare, who had attended the Seychelles meeting, being questioned. Qare said that although the meeting was supposed to be about anti-piracy, external stakeholders in Somalia had introduced the proposal to limit Somalia’s E.E.Z. to twelve nautical miles (at present, Somalia, which has not submitted a claim for an E.E.Z., defines its territorial waters as 200 nautical miles). Qare, indeed, said that the plan to limit Somalia’s E.E.Z. to twelve nautical miles has been broached by external actors at every international meeting that he has attended. He assured parliament that the Somali delegation to the Seychelles meeting had rejected the twelve nautical mile proposal.

Sentiment in parliament against negotiating the E.E.Z. within the “transitional” Roadmap process was building. Shabelle Media reported on M.P. statements at the parliamentary session. Mustafa Dhuhulow said that Kenya had bought a part of Somalia’s coastal waters. Muse Nur Amin introduced the issue of the length of the Somali coastline, which he said runs for 3,300 km according to the 1982 convention on territorial waters. Former T.F.P. speaker, Sh. Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe) added, according to a local observer, that, during his tenure, Kenya repeatedly approached him to settle the E.E.Z. issue.

The comments in parliament reflected the emerging view that by allowing the E.E.Z. issue to be determined in the Roadmap process, Kenya would be able to take some of Somalia’s territorial waters for itself. The judgment was given a sense of urgency by reports in the energy press that Kenya, in partnership with foreign oil companies led by France’s Total, was preparing to explore for petroleum in Block L5, part of which Somalia claims as within its territorial waters. Former Somali ambassador to Syria, Abdurrahman Nur Momamed Dinari, echoing Abdishakur, told Shabelle Media that an agreement under which Somali territorial waters would be sold to Kenya was signed under the Farmajo administration.

On October 8, the T.F.P. acted, passing its ban on discussion of the E.E.Z. by any of the transitional institutions. The six-point directive also affirmed the 1988 law of the sea, nullified all agreements and memoranda of understanding signed by Somali officials since 1991 concerning the country’s territorial waters (countering Kenya’s claims), declared that any attempt to reduce Somalia’s territorial waters would constitute an act of war, ordered the T.F.G. to transmit the T.F.P.’s directive to regional and international states and organizations, and declared: “Anyone who violates this decision commits high treason.”

On October 11, the T.F.G.’s cabinet accepted the T.F.P.’s decision and moved to reject any references to Somalia’s E.E.Z. in the Roadmap. A cabinet press release said that a panel of experts led by fisheries minister Ibrahim had presented a report to the cabinet on the E.E.Z. issue, that the report had been discussed fully, and that the cabinet had decided to “remove from all documents, such as the National Security and Stabilization Plan and the Roadmap, issues concerning the sea, such as the E.E.Z.”

Consequences of the T.F.P.’s Action

It is too early to tell whether or not the T.F.P.’s action on Somalia’s territorial waters will remove the issue from the Roadmap process. By October 15, the T.F.G.’s president, Sh. Sharif Sh. Ahmed, had not signed the directive.

Analyst Mohamud Uloso argues that the T.F.P.’s and the T.F.G. cabinet’s actions are likely to be overridden by the international coalition, since the T.F.G.’s leadership is “required to cooperate with the super Technical Committee, the Regional Political Initiative and the International Coordination and Monitoring Group all created to enforce the implementation of the Roadmap and to inaugurate the post transition arrangements after August 2012.” That is, according to Uloso, the international coalition of “invented ‘Somali stakeholders’” – as he calls it – will simply be able to ignore the T.F.P. and the T.F.G.’s cabinet, whether or not Sh. Sharif signs on.

Uloso’s point is well taken. The “donor”-powers/U.N. and Kenya are not likely to fold their E.E.Z. tent just because the T.F.P. has refused to join them inside and get with their program. Uloso is correct that the international coalition has attempted to create an interlocking set of bodies under its control to capture the transitional institutions and bend them to its will – disguised trusteeship.

Without breaking with Uloso’s analysis, it is still the case that the T.F.P.’s action is the first breach in the international coalition’s “transition” scheme, the first open resistance to it. The T.F.P.’s action begins and creates the opportunity for further opposition to the Roadmap process, especially the drafting of a permanent constitution. A closed source reports that there is already a move in parliament to oppose the constitution-drafting process. Another source says that opposition is likely to surface when the T.F.P. takes up approval of the Roadmap. Sources report that Sh. Sharif is working to torpedo the Roadmap so that he can extend his term in office beyond August 2012. The sources also say that in-fighting has begun between Sh. Sharif and the T.F.G.’s prime minister, Abdiweli Gas, who is reported to support the Roadmap.

Will the international coalition, with its interlocking monitoring-and-control agencies, be able to hold the “transition” together? Can the international coalition gain momentum towards the “transition” if the T.F.G. is divided within itself, and divided against the T.F.P.; and/or if the T.F.G. and T.F.P. confront the international coalition? Is the first speed bump the prelude to a blockade? How much control and responsibility are the “donor”-powers/U.N. willing to take as they are impelled increasingly to own the “transition” overtly?

[Coeus]

Indeed, the single national issue that unites Somalis across factions is the disposition of the country’s territorial waters. The depth of sentiment that it awakens indicates that Somali nationalism is more than a residual phenomenon. A divided and fragmented body, the T.F.P. showed the power of nationalism in its unanimous vote on October 8.

Props to the Somali Parliament that defended the right to our EEZ. Wallahi these french Oil companies are thugs. Kulaha give us your territory because its in the peace roadmap.

[Rifaad]

Source??

[Coeus]

Source??

http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/pub ... _EEZ.shtml

[galia]

Kenya can get all the paper work it wants, we'll just blow up any oil rig they build in Somali territory (land or water). Total/shell should both very carefully think about that before throwing their money away.

[Coeus]

Kenya can get all the paper work it wants, we'll just blow up any oil rig they build in Somali territory (land or water). Total/shell should both very carefully think about that before throwing their money away.

The arrogance of this little bantu nation is mind boggling. This is why Al shabab must be destroyed, so that the country can rehabilitate itself, and defend our National interests.

[udun]

Indeed, the single national issue that unites Somalis across factions is the disposition of the country’s territorial waters. The depth of sentiment that it awakens indicates that Somali nationalism is more than a residual phenomenon. A divided and fragmented body, the T.F.P. showed the power of nationalism in its unanimous vote on October 8.

Props to the Somali Parliament that defended the right to our EEZ. Wallahi these french Oil companies are thugs. Kulaha give us your territory because its in the peace roadmap.

Yup, the TFP has shown twice their patriotism. Basiscally, the division of Somalis, and introduction of mercenary forces from Uganda and Burundi are there to guarantee the imposition of foreign agenda on the people of Somalia. It is clear to every one now that Kenya's recent invasion is basicalling forcing down to our throats from what it could not obtained from the TFP.

The challenge is do we Somalis see the bigger game? Let us hope and pray this will be a unifying cause for all of us.

[Coeus]

Indeed, the single national issue that unites Somalis across factions is the disposition of the country’s territorial waters. The depth of sentiment that it awakens indicates that Somali nationalism is more than a residual phenomenon. A divided and fragmented body, the T.F.P. showed the power of nationalism in its unanimous vote on October 8.

Props to the Somali Parliament that defended the right to our EEZ. Wallahi these french Oil companies are thugs. Kulaha give us your territory because its in the peace roadmap.

Yup, the TFP has shown twice their patriotism. Basiscally, the division of Somalis, and introduction of mercenary forces from Uganda and Burundi are there to guarantee the imposition of foreign agenda on the people of Somalia. It is clear to every one now that Kenya's recent invasion is basicalling forcing down to our throats from what it could not obtained from the TFP.

The challenge is do we Somalis see the bigger game? Let us hope and pray this will be a unifying cause for all of us.

I believe the parliament and even the cabinet can see through the Kenyans. But the problem is that we face an Al shabab obstacle that hinders Somalia in any shape or form.

But i agree, Somalis should collectivly realise their National economic interests.

[udun]

Kenya can get all the paper work it wants, we'll just blow up any oil rig they build in Somali territory (land or water). Total/shell should both very carefully think about that before throwing their money away.

The arrogance of this little bantu nation is mind boggling. This is why Al shabab must be destroyed, so that the country can rehabilitate itself, and defend our National interests.

All I see is Al-Shabaab standing up to Kenya militarily despite its obvious weeknesses, while TFP nullifies all of the seizure of Somalia's coast.

Do you ask yourself why AMISOM is always strengthened while Somali government cannot buy nor accept donated tanks and other meaningful military hardware without the UN Security Council approving it? There is a reason why arms embargo was placed on Somalia? FYI, it is not meant to keep the violence amongst Somalis down; it is designed to keep us weak and not being able to build capable security forces

What is also clear is Kenya is counting on others while it presses on its recent military adventure.

We can remain divided and clannish, or we can see what is blowinmg up in front of our eyes. I hope this will remove many of divisions that exist within the Somali society, but it needs a broader coverage.

[galia]

Udan the truth is that you are Anti-Hawiye. I mean it kills you to see that Mogadishu is united and has peace.
You have always supported Al-shabaab thinking that it is the best way of destroying Hawiye.

We know where we stand regarding al-shabaab and we'll closely work with the Kenyans to destroy this entity.
And you supported the Ethiopians two years ago, fcuking filthy traitor

So fcuk you motherfcuker, lets see who wins this one

[waryaa]

thnx coeus for this informative pc...

[Voltage]

Parliament also questioned the T.F.G.’s minister of international cooperation, Abdurrahman Abdishakur Warsame, who said that the previous government of Prime Minister Mohamed Farmajo had signed a deal on territorial waters with Kenya. According to the closed source, Abdishakur said that he had been “forced” to sign the agreement, although he did not know what it stipulated. He was led to understand, he said, that the deal gave Kenya some of the Somali territorial waters.

Is GaroweOnline serious? How could they make a typo that serious? It is like a freudian slip...everything bad has "Farmaajo" on it for them. Abdurahman Abdishakur, the man who signed the that agreement was never a minister under Farmaajo nor is now. He was a minister during Omar Abdirashid government and signed it during that time.

[galia]

Parliament also questioned the T.F.G.’s minister of international cooperation, Abdurrahman Abdishakur Warsame, who said that the previous government of Prime Minister Mohamed Farmajo had signed a deal on territorial waters with Kenya. According to the closed source, Abdishakur said that he had been “forced” to sign the agreement, although he did not know what it stipulated. He was led to understand, he said, that the deal gave Kenya some of the Somali territorial waters.

Is GaroweOnline serious? How could they make a typo that serious? It is like a freudian slip...everything bad has "Farmaajo" on it for them. Abdurahman Abdishakur, the man who signed the that agreement was never a minister under Farmaajo nor is now. He was a minister during Omar Abdirashid government and signed it during that time.

Exactly, this just shows that the whole report is Shiiit. Its only there to boast the popularity of decaying al-shabaab and destabilize the legitimacy of the super popular TFG

[Oxidant]

No such thing is happening; this is a violation against international law and the Somali constitution. The world would know this would ever occur

[Username1]

All the best to the Bantu nation with it's target practicing..