MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia has declared its full solidarity with Kuwait in a burgeoning maritime border dispute with Iraq, cautioning that a recent Iraqi filing at the United Nations could impinge on Kuwait’s sovereignty and recognized maritime zones.
In a statement released Feb. 25, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it is closely monitoring Iraq’s submission of maritime coordinate lists to the U.N., a procedural step used by states to lodge their claims under international law. Mogadishu warned that the coordinates, as presented, may conflict with established arrangements in the Persian Gulf.
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The government urged strict adherence to international legal frameworks and previously recognized boundaries to prevent escalation. It specifically called on all parties to respect:
- The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
- U.N. Security Council Resolution 833 (1993), which demarcated the Iraq-Kuwait border following the Gulf War
- Existing bilateral agreements between the two countries
Somalia framed its position as grounded in what it described as deep historical and fraternal ties with Kuwait. The statement urged restraint, constructive dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes, saying those principles are essential to regional stability and good-neighborly relations.
The rare public intervention by Mogadishu underscores how maritime boundaries in the Gulf carry outsized geopolitical weight. While the details of Iraq’s latest submission have not been publicly elaborated by Somalia, the government’s emphasis on UNCLOS and Resolution 833 reflects a defense of multilateral mechanisms that underpin recognized borders and maritime zones. Under UNCLOS, states routinely deposit coordinate lists with the United Nations to define territorial seas, exclusive economic zones and continental shelf claims; where these overlap, negotiations or established dispute-resolution processes apply.
By aligning itself clearly with Kuwait on the question of maritime sovereignty, Somalia signaled both solidarity with a longstanding partner and support for the international architecture governing sea boundaries. The foreign ministry’s message also framed the issue as one with regional ramifications, warning that departures from agreed legal frameworks can carry diplomatic and security costs beyond the immediate parties.
Somalia’s statement did not outline next steps beyond its call for dialogue, but its formal appeal to recognized instruments — UNCLOS, U.N. Security Council resolutions and bilateral accords — places the onus on legal processes and diplomacy to manage any differences. The move positions Mogadishu among governments pressing for predictability and rule-based navigation in congested and strategically vital waters.
As the United Nations processes Iraq’s filing, attention will likely focus on how Baghdad and Kuwait engage through established channels to address any conflicting claims. Somalia’s stance adds another diplomatic voice backing a de-escalatory path anchored in international law and previously demarcated lines.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
