Tension Mounts in Mandera as Cross-Border Clashes Spill Into Kenya

MANDERA, Kenya – Fear and anxiety have gripped residents of Mandera town following a series of cross-border incidents involving stray bullets, rockets, and live ordnance reportedly landing on Kenyan soil from ongoing fighting in neighbouring Somalia.

The alarming developments have prompted Mandera Senator Ali Roba to raise the alarm over the growing threat posed by the conflict across the border.

"Enough! Mandera Town is under constant threat from Somalia’s endless wars. Stray bullets, rockets and live ordnance are hitting Kenyan soil, endangering lives and destroying property," Roba wrote on social media.

He noted that in recent weeks, Mandera residents have faced multiple security incidents, with projectiles from clashes in Somalia falling within Kenyan territory.

“These are not accidents — they are the direct spillover of unending conflicts,” he said. “Families live in fear. Children cannot play outside. Businesses shut early. Entire neighbourhoods brace for the next stray bullet or explosion. This is no way for Kenyan citizens to live.”

Residents have now called on the Kenyan government to act swiftly to safeguard lives and protect the country’s territorial integrity. Many are urging Nairobi to pressure both the Federal Government of Somalia and the Jubaland administration to de-escalate hostilities near the border.

“Kenya’s duty is clear — protect lives and property in Mandera at all costs. Silence is not an option. Action is overdue,” Roba added. “Our Government must immediately warn Mogadishu and Jubaland state that this is unacceptable.”

Across the border, residents of Dollo and Bulla Hawa in Somalia’s Gedo region are also living in fear amid escalating tensions linked to political and military disputes. The conflict, widely referred to as the “triangle war,” pits the Somali Federal Government against the Jubaland administration and regional militia groups.

Bulla Hawa, a strategically important town sitting at the intersection of Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia, was recently captured by federal forces — a move that further heightened instability in the region.

In response, the Vice President of Jubaland issued a three-day ultimatum to powerful militia leader Abdirashid Janan to vacate the town. However, local elders negotiated a temporary extension, allowing Janan and his fighters to remain in Bulla Hawa until after Friday prayers. Community members were quoted as saying: “After Friday prayers, we will fight you as patriots.”

Meanwhile, tensions have been fuelled by claims that Kenya is supporting the Jubaland administration — an accusation Nairobi has not officially addressed, but which has worsened diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Concern grew last week after reports emerged of an Ethiopian military helicopter sighted in a Janan stronghold, adding to speculation over foreign involvement in the conflict.

With the situation deteriorating, residents on both sides of the border are calling for urgent national and international intervention to prevent a full-blown crisis and protect civilians caught in the crossfire.

Mandera, a remote town in northeastern Kenya, lies close to both the Somali and Ethiopian borders and has long been vulnerable to instability in the region.

GAROWE ONLINE