Kenya strikes deal for reopening border points with Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - The porous border points between Kenya and Somalia will be re-opened in three phases, an agreement signed between the two nations observes, with the process now set to take a period of three months in which security forces from both parties will play a crucial role.

A ministerial meeting bringing both countries together took place at the Office of the President in Kenya, with the East Africa nation's Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki and his Somali counterpart Abshir Omar chairing the session, which was a follow-up of a meeting held last year.

The two countries have resolved to reopen the border between them within 90 days, a joint statement between the two nations read. The borders were closed in 2011 due to the wave of terror perpetrated by the Al-Shabab group, which is a key ally of Al-Qaeda in East Africa.

Within 30 days from today, the Mandera-Bulahawa border point will be reopened, the statement reads. The Liboi-Harhar border point will be reopened within the next 60 days while point Daresalam in Kiunga-Ras Kamboni border will be reopened within the next 90 days, the statement added.

Last year, former Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud where the process of reopening the borders was elaborately discussed. A technical committee involving technocrats from both sides has been crafting the agreement.

Kenya's Defence Minister Aden Duale, who attended the meeting, said "The closure of the Kenya-Somali border, baring the entry and exit of people and commodities between the two countries, over a decade ago has had adverse effects on the economy, particularly in the North Eastern Province".

In the meeting, it was agreed that joint security teams drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces [KDF] and the Somalia Security Forces [SSF] will aid in managing security operations along the borders, Duale, a staunch supporter of Somali nationalism, revealed.

Present were the Minister for Internal Security from the Federal Government of Somalia Abshir Omar; Somali Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed; Somali Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali. The team represented President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who has been pushing for close ties between the two countries.

Kenyan PS for Defence Patrick Mariru and his counterpart from Interior, Dr. Raymond Omollo, General Officer Commanding Eastern Command Major General Juma Mwinyikai; Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome; his Deputy Noor Gabow among other senior security officials also attended.
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Al-Shabaab militants are facing tough moments in Somalia for the last couple of months following the activation of the operations against the group which led to the death of over 3,000 fighters. Somalia projects that in the next two years, the group would have been defeated.

GAROWE ONLINE