Somalia
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Kenya delays border reopening with Somalia amid security concerns


Wednesday July 5, 2023

 
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki speaks in Dadaab on the planned reopening of Kenya-Somalia border on Wednesday. COURTESY

Nairobi (HOL) — The Kenyan government is postponing the anticipated reopening of its border with Somalia due to escalating security concerns, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced Wednesday. The decision follows a series of attacks believed to be orchestrated by the al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabaab militants.

Kindiki conveyed the government's intent to delay the planned reopening during his visit to the Daadab refugee camp. He shared on Twitter, "The government will delay the planned phased-out reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border points to facilitate comprehensive and conclusive handling of the recent wave of terror attacks and cross-border crime."

Kindiki toured the Ifo 2 and Dagahaley Refugee Camps in Daadab and the World Food Program food distribution points.

In May, Kenya and Somalia had agreed on a 90-day timeline to reopen several border posts, including Mandera, Liboi, and Kiunga, which have been closed since 2011 when Kenya deployed forces into southern Somalia to counteract al Shabaab.

However, over a dozen people have been killed along their shared border in the past month. Security analysts view this as part of al Shabaab's tactics to pressure Kenya into withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from Somalia.

Kindiki also unveiled a new policy wherein the Kenyan government will now be responsible for managing the database of all refugees within its borders and transitioning refugee encampments into integrated settlements. The government pledged to uphold the Refugee Act 2022 and take firm action against criminal elements within the refugee population to safeguard national security.

Al Shabaab, active for over a decade, aims to overthrow Somalia's central government.