ICJ gives conditions for attendance of Kenya-Somalia hearings

The Hague Based International Justice Court –ICJ is scheduled to start public hearings over the maritime dispute between Kenya and Somalia in early November.

On Tuesday, the court outlined conditions to journalists, diplomats and members of the public wishing to attend the hearings.

Journalists who had received accreditation for the hearings which were initially set for the first week of September have been told they will have to reapply.

"Owing to the limited number of seats available in the Great Hall of Justice, priority access will be given to representatives of the States Parties to the case, and to members of the diplomatic corps," a statement from the court said.

Diplomats and Journalists have until October 24 to apply for accreditation to access the court for the hearings.

"A number of seats will be allocated to members of the public on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no advance registration procedure, and admission requests submitted beforehand will not be considered," the statement said.

In the statement, the court said the first round of hearing will take place from November 4 and 6.

“The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will hold public hearings in the case concerning Maritime Delimitation in the Indian Ocean (Somalia v. Kenya), from Monday 4 to Friday 8 November 2019 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court,” the statement read in part.

According to the court, the hearings, in this case, have been rescheduled further to the request made by the Republic of Kenya on September, 3.

It said the rescheduling took into account the views expressed by the Federal Republic of Somalia on that request (see Press Release No. 2019/36).

The court said the first round of oral argument will be held on November 4 and 6th respectively.

While Somalia government will present its submissions on the Monday of November 4 between 10am and 1pm and 3pm to 4.30pm respectively, Kenya will have its chance on Wednesday of November 6 within the same time frames.