Top UN court sides with Somalia in sea border dispute with Kenya

ICJ rules largely in favour of Somalia in setting a sea boundary believed to be rich in oil and gas.

The United Nations’ top court has awarded Somalia control of most of a potentially oil- and gas-rich chunk of the Indian Ocean after a bitter legal battle with neighbouring Kenya over their sea border.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Tuesday that there was “no agreed maritime boundary” and drew a new border close to the one claimed by Somalia, although Kenya kept a part of the 100,000 square-kilometre (39,000-square-mile) area, chief judge Joan Donoghue said.

The ruling is legally binding, though the court has no enforcement powers.