By Freddie M
Some Somali groups are reportedly claiming that Norway supported Kenya with 200 million U.S. dollars in an attempt to woe Somalia to adjust or forfeit parts of her continental (shelf) border with Kenya in the Indian Ocean. The group alleges that Norway’s support was to help Kenya secure a claim to a considerable section of the Somali continental shelf.
This claim was, among other things, presented by the hitherto unknown group, "Warrier Brave", which tendered Wednesday’s bomb threat letter regarding Norwegian interests in Kenya. Norway has refuted categorically all the allegations presented in the threatening letter.
"Those behind (the rumour) are geared to undermining Somali authorities, and we have (unfortunately) been drawn into this conspiracy theory," said Ambassador Hans Wilhelm Longva.
Norway in a conspiracy theory
According to the Ambassador, those spreading the allegation that Norway has participated in a scheme to weaken Somalia’s claim of the continental shelf know very well that it is entirely unfounded. They are simply seeking to undermine the Somali authorities and are therefore conspiring to derail a lawful process.
Hon. Longva has been following the case for the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. He has, among other things, worked closely with the Somali Government as concerns Somalia’s claim for the extension of her continental shelf in the Indian Ocean.
Hon. Longva explained, “What we have done is to assist Somalia in this very complicated process to present her claim regarding the continental shelf that stretches beyond 200 nautical miles from the seashore" (Reports Aftenposten).
Rumours of oil
According to Norwegian-Somali sources, rumour has been spreading in some parts of Somalia that there is oil in the continental shelf under question and that this is the motivation behind Norway's interest.
In March 2009, the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry held an open information meeting for Somalis in Oslo to explain Norway's role in the mapping of the continental shelf in the Indian Ocean.
However, Norway, Kenya and Somalia have not gone the extra mile together to repudiate the said false allegations.
“No, not together, but individual statements have been released from both Kenya and Somalia. What we have done from the Norwegian side, is to present all the facts of the case in a meeting with representatives of the Somali community in Norway. And in a way we know that our thoughts (on this issue) have been relayed to Somalia,” says Hon. Longva.
Ideologically "empty threats"
A Norwegian Somali, Mr. Bashe Musse, who has held several positions in various Somali associations in Norway, was one of the participants at the said information meeting in March 2009. He says the meeting helped to clarify several ambiguities that surrounded this case.
“Most of the doubts we had (before) were cleared after this meeting. The majority (of attendees at the meeting) felt calm and reassurance. We got a clear understanding of the facts and left the meeting with the understanding that Norway was not hiding anything. Norway has helped Somalia to submit documentation on the continental shelf to the UN within the required deadline. Several participants at the meeting saw this as a win, and that we will get more than what we had before,” said Mr. Musse.
Mr. Musse has never heard of the organization "Warrier Brave". He believes ideologically motivated individuals were behind Wednesday’s threat to Norwegian interests in Kenya.
“I don’t think there is any organization behind the threat letter, but that there are individuals who are promoting "empty threats". There are a few individuals spreading such rumours with the aim of fuelling conflicts with the Western world,” he said
For more reports on this newsreel in norwegian visit:
Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi
@ kenyansinnorway.blogspot.com
