Bruhan Makong
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May 15, 2023 | Interior CS Kithure Kindiki poses for a photo with Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali, Somalia’s Internal Security Minister/MINA |
Kenya and Somalia officials have endorsed the phased reopening of three border posts between the two countries over a 90-day period.
The border points in located in Garissa, Mandera and Lamu
counties were closed under former President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration in
2011 as a result of increased attacks by the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terror
outfit which affiliated to Al-Qaeda.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Monday
during a joint media briefing with his Somalia counterpart Mohamed Sheikh Ali,
that the move is part of the efforts to enhance to cross-border co-operation
and bilateral ties between Kenya and Somalia.
CS Kindiki said that the Mandera-Bula Hawa border point will
be the first to be opened after 30 days. This will be followed by the opening
of Liboi-Harhar-Dhobley on the Somalia side and Kiunga-Ras Kamboni border point
in Lamu within ninety days.
"The first border point provides an entry point from
the Kenyan side in Mandera County, the second border point provides an entry
point from the Kenyan side in Garissa County, and the last border point in
Kiunga will eb able to provide an entry point from the Kenyan side in Lamu
County," Kindiki said following a high -level meeting that was also
attended by Somalia's Minister for Defence Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and Abshir
Omar Jama, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Kenya's Defence Cabinet
Secretary Aden Duale.
Anti-terrorism efforts
CS Kindiki said that Kenya and Somalia continue to
experience both intra and inter-state security threats emanating from
Al-Shabaab terrorist group with increased prevalence along the shared border
areas.
As a result, Kindiki said that there was need for the two
countries to step up their efforts to counter violent extremism.
He noted that terrorism poses a threat to peace and
stability at both the national and regional levels.
"The deliberations noted the need to enhance
co-operation and partnership between our two neighborly countries purpose to
address the challenges to foster regional integration," Kindiki said.
He said during the meeting, both governments recognized and
commented the complimentary role played by development partners in the fight
against terror, violent extremism, cross border organized crime and the value
addition to efforts to maintains peace and security in the region.
Cross-border cooperation
The Interior CS pledged Kenya's commitment to enhancing
cross-border engagements keeping in mind the emerging security trends and
dynamics paradigms that transcend national, regional and continental
boundaries.
"We wish to affirm our commitment as the Government of
Kenya of our continuous engagement with our development partners to ensure that
our common objective of safety for all our, people, communities and the world
at large is achieved," he said.
CS Kindiki further said that the two countries further
resolved to strengthen cross-border communication and information sharing
exchange, enhance border infrastructure and management and develop modalities
of addressing cross-border challenges between the two countries.
The two states further resolved to enhance the operational
and capacity of the border security and law enforcement agencies to effectively
respond to cross-border threats.
Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali, Somalia's Internal Security
Minister said that the cross-border challenges experienced by communities in
both sides of the common border are too complex for one country to address.
He singled out recurrent droughts, human trafficking,
illegal trade and transnational crimes as some of the major challenges facing
the communities residing in border areas.
"However, by working together and leveraging our
historical and bilateral ties between our two countries, citizens of both
Somalia and Kenya can enjoy enhanced food security, improved infrastructure,
increased exchange of goods and services and overall sustainable long-lasting
peace," Ali said.
He noted that Somalia is equally committed to working with
development partners to enhance cross-border security and co-operation.