WAJIR— As part of efforts to enhance border security and combat smuggled goods, Kenya has announced plans to reopen its Mandera border crossing with Somalia.
After high-level consultations, Kenya claims that plans to reopen the Mandera border post with Somalia are nearing completion.
Kenya’s Internal Security Minister, Kithure Kindiki, said during a visit to the town of Mandera that reopening the crossing point will increase border security and stop the flow of smuggled goods that are used to fund terrorist activities.
Kindiki stated, “I have directed the county security teams to sit down with the agencies of government that are represented here, including customs and immigrations, and assess the requirements and provide information within one week to enable us to renovate the border post and re-start our border.” This will allow them to renovate the border post and restart the border.
In an effort to prevent incursions by al-Shabab insurgents operating from the Somali side, Kenya closed all official border crossings with Somalia in 2012. The Mandera crossing, as well as those in Lamu, Wajir, and Garissa, were among the closed border points.
People are still illegally crossing the border and smuggling goods despite the shutdowns.
The county security team was given the task of locating armed militants operating in the border region by Kindiki.
Kindiki stated, “I therefore direct the county security team to sit down with the political leaders and the elders in a plan that will be guided by the community leaders and elders, so as to flush-out armed militants from Mandera and Northeastern.” The plan will be used to flush out armed militants from Mandera and Northeastern.
During a security tour of Mandera and Wajir counties on Friday, Kindiki reiterated the significance of elder participation in security operations to elected officials and community elders.
Kenya’s northeast has been the target of numerous al-Shabab attacks over the past five years.
In 2015, the Islamist militant group targeted Garissa University College, killing nearly 150 people in its deadliest attack.
Since 2011, when Kenya first contributed troops to the African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia, al-Shabab, which has its headquarters in Somalia, has been active in Kenya.
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