NAIROBI (SD) – Hundreds of thousands of Somalis in many parts of Kenya have been warned against any celebratory action ahead of ICJ verdict over Sonalia-Kenya maritime border dispute.

In a statement, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has called on Somalis to refrain from any action thacould lead confilct of communities.

“I ask the Somali nationals not to be excited just in case the ruling goes against Kenya. This might lead to unnecessary tension in the country they have called home for decades,” Supkem’s Northeastern regional coordinator Adan Yunis said.

Somali delegation led by Deputy PM Mahdi Khadar Guled is in Hague to participate in the court sitting.

The court concluded hearings last October with Somalia alone participating in the oral hearings after Kenya pulled out citing bias.

More to follow.

Somalia, which lies northeast of Kenya, wants to extend its maritime frontier with Kenya along the line of the land border, in a south-easterly direction.

Kenya wants the border to head out to sea in a straight-line east, giving it more territory.

The disputed triangle of water stretches over an area of more than 100,000 square kilometers (40,000 square miles).