MOGADISHU (SD) – Somalia on Wednesday reiterated its will to see International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine the maritime dispute case with Kenya, dismissing reports by Kenyan media claiming Mogadishu reached deal to share the disputed oil blocks with Nairobi.

Nairobi based newspaper, The Star has reported that it obtained documents confirming the deal between the two countries to equally share proceeds of oil and gas sales within the disputed maritime triangle.

The Star, claimed reported that the redacted agreement between the nations shows the 50:50 sharing deal.

The paper reported that Qatar has a major interest in Italian international Oil giant Eni which is carrying out explorations on some of the blocks in the disputed territory. 

According the newspaper, the official signing of the deal between the countries is expected to take place in Doha soon.

In a Twitter post, Somali deputy prime minister, Mahdi Gulaid dismissed claims that Somalia agreed with Kenya to resolve maritime dispute case out of court months before International Court of Justice decide the fate of the case.

“Media reports that Somalia and Kenya are in agreement to divide the proceeds of oil and gas 50/50 are baseless and untrue. We are awaiting fair judgement by CJI-ICJ on the maritime dispute,” the deputy prime minister said.

Somalia and Kenya are seeking a resolution on the ownership of a 150,000 square-kilometer (58,000 square-mile) area off their Indian Ocean coastline, which both countries want to explore for oil, gas and fish.

In 2014, Somalia went to court to challenge a 2009 agreement that set its maritime border along latitudinal lines extending 450 nautical miles into the sea.

The court has concluded the hearing of the case and is expected announce its ruling in the forthcoming months.

The court verdict is final and not subject to appeal.