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S U M M A R YT h e motion of the Somalia plate relative t o the Nubia (Africa), Arabia and Antarctica platcs is re-evaluated using a new inversion method based o n a Monte Carlo technique and a least absolute value misfit criterion. A subset of the N U V E L 1 data set, with additional data along the Levant Fault and in the Red Sea is used. T h e results confirm that the motion of Arabia with respect to Africa is significantly different from the motion relative t o Somalia. It is further shown that the data along the SW Indian Ridge are compatible with a pole of relative motion between Africa and Somalia located close t o the hypothetical diffuse triple junction between the ridge and thc East African Rift. T h e resulting Africa-Somalia motion is then compatible with the geological structures and seismological data along the East African Rift system. Assuming a separate Somalia plate thus solves kinematic and geological problems around the Afar triple junction and along the East African Rift.