A meeting held on Monday by Kenyan and Somali authorities in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on issues of cooperation on security, trade and movement of people, resulted in a decision on a gradual reopening of the land border. between the two countries.
The meeting brought together around the same table delegations of ministers from both States. During a joint press conference organized after the talks, the Cabinet Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Kithure Kindiki, specified that three border crossings will be concerned.
« We are looking into the possibility of reopening the border and we have decided that the border between Somalia and Kenya will be reopened gradually over the next 90 days », through three border posts, including those of Mandera-Bulahawa, Liboi-Harhar and Kiunga-Ras Kamboni, located in the Kenyan counties of Mandera, Wajir and Lamu respectively.
From the day of the agreement, the first border post should be opened within the next 30 days, followed by the second within 60 days and the third on July 1. The possibility of adding a fourth Wajir County border post is under consideration for a later reopening date, according to the same minister.
For the Somali Minister of Internal Security, Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali, the agreement is justified by the motivation to facilitate the movement of populations and to develop trade in goods and services.
As a reminder, the border between the two countries was officially closed by Nairobi in October 2011, due to the Shebab insurrection.
But Kenya and Somalia have also clashed over other issues such as the demarcation of their maritime border in the Indian Ocean. The International Court of Justice, the main judicial body of the UN, finally agreed with Somalia, a decision officially rejected by Nairobi.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1173 of 16/05/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
