Highlights:
Kenya’s security agents in Mandera County have teamed up with Somalia’s Bula Hawo administration to curb cross-border incursions of the Al Shabaab militants.
The two sides have held a series of security meetings that are aimed at closing the porous border with some of the recommendations being common entry and exit points into either of the countries.
Summary:
In attempts to curb cross-border incursion of al Shabaab militants between Kenya and Somalia, Mandera County and Bula Hawo administration have held series of security meetings that are geared towards achieving security for both countries.
The two administrations have resolved to create common entry and exit border points to monitor the porous border between the two countries that the Shabaab have exploited to navigate between them.
Both governments agreed to share information related to terrorism, step up efforts to restore peace in the border area. Additionally, the resolve includes return of suspects arrested to country of origin for prosecution.
Both administrations are expected to increase the police presence at the border to facilitate additional patrolling and screening of people travelling in or out of either country into the other. This will stop the militants from crossing over to commit crimes especially in Mandera town and the smuggling of contraband goods.
Despite accusation leveled against the Somalia administration of replenishing the supplies of the militants, they have vowed to adhere to the security resolution to maintain security between the two countries’ border area.
This new resolution will help arrest any recruits and or fighters from crossing over into Somalia in the meantime before the security wall that will close the Kenya-Somalia border leaving designated crossing point is completed. The 700-km security wall was commissioned in 2015 and upon completion will provide a long term solution for cross-border security in Kenya’s border
