Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Kenya, Somalia Trade Threats in Indian Ocean Dispute

Mohammed Yusuf

   Analysts warn that tension could rise as a U.N. hearing nears on a
   Kenyan-Somali territorial argument.

   Kenya's parliament recently called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to send
   troops to the Indian Ocean to protect the country's territory from what
   it calls Somalia's aggression.
   "In the event that diplomacy is going tofailand any other process
   fails, then our constitution permits the use of Kenya defense forces to
   protect our boundary, and the authority to use Kenya defense forces is
   vested in the parliament," said lawmaker JohnMbadi. "The president can
   declare war or use our forces to protect our boundary, but the
   deployment of those troops must be sanctioned by the parliament. We
   told the president ... that parliament would support any means to
   protect our territory."

   Court of Justice hearing
   The threat by Kenya comes less than a month before the U.N.'s
   International Court of Justice holds a hearing on the dispute.
   Somali lawmaker Mohamed Omar Talha told VOA that his country would
   counter Kenya by sending troops of its own to the
   100,000-square-kilometer (38,600-square-mile) area.
   "If they send their troops to Somalia, we, the parliament of Somalia,
   will also bring a motion that will counter such a threat and give
   permission to our soldiers to defend our people and
   territory,"Talharsaid.
   The neighbors' maritime dispute began in 2014 when Somalia filed a
   complaint against Kenya in the International Court of Justice saying it
   had exhausted all other avenues of finding a resolution.
   Kenya wants negotiations with Somalia, while Somalia insists the court
   process must stop before negotiations take place.
   Security expertMwachofiSingo said a conflict between the countries
   would benefit the al-Shabab terrorist group.

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