Somalia deploys troops to border with Kenya amid frosty relationship

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The federal government of Somalia has deployed its troops to the common border with Kenya in Mandera, Daily Nation reports, amid simmering tensions between Nairobi and Mogadishu, which were triggered by upcoming polls in the Horn of Africa nation.

According to residents, Somali National Army [SNA] took strategic positions in Mandera's Border Point One and Bula-Hawo, a town which is on the Somalia side, with similar movements reported in El-Wak and other areas along the porous border of the two nations.

“We have woken up to the sight of military officers along the border. This is very worrying,” said resident Ali Abdille in an interview with Kenya's Daily Nation, hours after Somalia announced it had severed its relationship with Kenya.

SNA’s move, including placing technical vehicles at Border Point Three, forced locals to start leaving their homes in case of danger. The residents are said to be fearing clashes between SNA and the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF].

A senior security officer in Mandera, who sought anonymity, confirmed the arrival of the Somali military officers, added the Daily Nation. The troops are drawn from the Gedo region, within Jubaland state, which has been also protesting their presence there.

“We have information about what is happening along the border but that is an issue that will be decided by higher offices in Nairobi,” the source said.

Osman Abukar Dubbe, Somalia's Information Minister, announced on national TV early Tuesday that his country was cutting diplomatic ties with Kenya. The announcement was made at 1:40 am local time in Mogadishu.

Dubbe said Kenya had “constantly interfered” with Somalia’s internal affairs and that Nairobi was violating Somalia’s sovereignty. The announcement came as President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted Somaliland President Muse Bihi in Nairobi.

Mandera businessman Issack Adan said: “We are asking Nairobi to ensure any issue between the two countries is resolved for peace to prevail.”

“This situation is going to affect business interactions between Mandera and Somalia since we get most of our goods from there,” he added.

Mandera relies heavily on Mogadishu for business supplies considering the long distance to Nairobi. Kenya does not have an army barrack in Mandera but it has a Forward Operating Base and the military has been manning the border town due to the Al-Shabaab menace.

But few kilometers from Mandera, Kenya has a military barrack in Garissa which was unveiled in 2019 and plays home to the 17th Battalion. The KDF almost clashed with SNA earlier this year along the border after the latter assaulted Jubaland security forces with the fight spilling over to Kenya.

Nairobi on Tuesday said it will solve the current impasse diplomatically in a statement issued by government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna. But the country is shifting its allegiance to Hargeisa, a move that could have further infuriated Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE