An application filed by Awdal community at the International Court of Justice and represented by MP Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib Dr. Abdullahi Hashi Abib, a Member of Parliament of the Federal Republic of Somalia, “seeks relief to protect the sovereignty, resources, and dignity of the Awdal State community, as well as to address violations of Somali national laws and international treaties.”
The application seeks from Kilomass LLC (https://www.kilomass.com/), a Saudi Arabia-based mining company, to cease and desist in “engaging in unauthorized exploitation of natural resources, environmental destruction, and corrupt practices in collusion with unauthorized brokers.”
The community accuses Kilomass LLC of engaging “in mining activities in Awdal State without obtaining authorization from the Federal Government of Somalia or the legitimate representatives of the Awdal State community.”
In addition, the application states that the community has suffered environmental and economic Damage as a result of the mining activities of Kilomass LLC. Kilomass is also accused of causing severe environmental degradation, displacement of local communities, and deprivation of their rightful economic benefits.
SOMALI COMMUNITY IN AWDAL STATE FILES CASE AGAINST SAUDI-BASED MINING COMPANY AT THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)
An application filed by Awdal community at the International Court of Justice and represented by MP Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib @MPDrAbib, a Member of… pic.twitter.com/rRCerSC9EB
— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) January 29, 2025
Awdal community requests from the court to declare the mining activities of Kilomass LLC in Awdal State “illegal and unauthorized.”
And finally the community demands from the court to “Mandate the Respondent to compensate the Awdal State community for damages, including environmental restoration costs and reparations for lost revenue and livelihoods.”
It is the first time in recent Somali history that a local Somali community seeks relief from a foreign company accused of environmental degradation and livelihoods.
While not almost similar, another landmark case against foreign companies was one by the Nigerian communities of Niger Delta in 2008 where they sued Shell Oil operations in the Niger Delta for causing significant oil spills, contaminating their land and water, impacting their livelihoods and health, and that Shell’s parent company, based in the UK, is ultimately responsible for these damages.
In the Shell Oil case, in 2015, four months before the case was due to go to trial to the High Court in London, Shell agreed to a landmark settlement of £55 million.
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)
APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGSI. PARTIES TO THE DISPUTE
Applicant:
The Representatives of the Awdal State Community, Somalia
Address: Baki, Awdal, Somalia
Represented by: Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib, Member of Parliament, Federal Republic… pic.twitter.com/JhiOQbJ4rY— MP Dr Abdillahi Hashi Abib (@MPDrAbib) January 29, 2025
> Daljir Media
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