Kenya delays reopening of border with Somalia over Al-Shabaab attacks

NAIROBI - Kenya has delayed reopening its border with the Federal Republic of Somalia, a top official said, following sustained Al-Shabaab attacks on the country's soil which have claimed the deaths of close to 22 security officers within a span of one month.

Kithure Kindiki, the country's Interior Minister, said the reopening of Mandera-Bula Hawo, Liboi-Dhoblely, and Kiunga-Ras Kamboni borders will be delayed despite the announcement in May in which Nairobi had vowed to reopen the borders.

The decision to hold re-opening of the borders, he added, was informed by the unprecedented death of five civilians and several security officers. The attacks were claimed by Al-Shabaab militants who threatened to continue reigning terror on the people.

"The government will delay the planned reopening of Kenya-Somalia border points until we conclusively deal with the recent spate of terror attacks and cross-border crime," Kindiki said during a visit to the Dadaab refugee camp in far eastern Kenya near Somalia.

Since 2012, the borders have been closed down after the group started crossing over the border, but the decision has been a painful one because the militants take advantage and impose taxes on smuggled goods. Many traders use unofficial routes to access the country.

The decision to reopen the borders was arrived at following several meetings involving teams from Somalia and Kenya, after a meeting between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Recently, Mohamud held meetings with newly elected President William Ruto.

The Interior Ministry had decided to reopen the borders in three phases within a span of 90 days from the schedule given by Kindiki in May. But the attacks targeting members of security teams and innocent civilians may have informed the change of mind, which means the process will be delayed for an unknown period.

Kenya hosts tens of thousands of refugees at Dadaab, most of them Somalis fleeing violence, poverty, and a ferocious drought over the border, and successive governments have voiced suspicion about some of those sheltering there, AFP reports.

Kindiki said, "99.99 percent of refugees are good and law-abiding and we will do our best to help them". "However, there are few criminal elements who will not be allowed to hurt the interests of bonafide refugees and the host communities," he said.

Kindiki and his team have been touring Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir counties which are worst affected with Lamu also being on the list. In addition, Kenya has deployed more security officers from the Kenya Defense Forces along the border in what is aimed at blocking the militants from crossing over due to sustained military operations against the group in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE