Jubbaland, Kenya’s Mandera County Pledge Stronger Cross-Border Security Cooperation

GOOBJOOG NEWS | KISMAYO: Somalia’s Jubbaland State and Kenya’s Mandera County have agreed to intensify joint efforts to enhance cross-border security and safeguard the movement of people and goods, following a high-level meeting between their respective leaders on Monday.

Jubbaland’s First Vice President, Mahmoud Sayid Aden, met with the Governor of Mandera County in Kismayo to discuss shared security concerns along the porous frontier, where the al-Shabab militant group continues to threaten lives, trade, and regional stability.

The talks focused on bolstering bilateral cooperation to counter the insurgent threat and improve the coordination of border patrols and intelligence-sharing.

The meeting comes amid growing anxiety in both countries over the militant group’s cross-border operations, particularly in areas straddling Somalia’s Gedo and Lower Juba regions and Kenya’s Mandera County.

Vice President Aden underscored the Jubbaland administration’s commitment to defeating al-Shabab and protecting civilians on both sides of the border.

“We will not allow al-Shabab to disrupt economic activity or endanger the lives of our citizens and neighbors,” he said after the talks, stressing the importance of maintaining open and secure trade routes for the benefit of communities who depend on cross-border commerce.

Delegations from both sides agreed to strengthen coordination on joint security initiatives, with an emphasis on rapid response, civilian protection, and long-term stabilization of vulnerable areas.

Officials noted that the border regions are not only vital trade corridors but also high-risk zones where al-Shabab has exploited weak security frameworks to launch ambushes and extort communities.

Mandera County has been particularly hard hit by al-Shabab attacks in recent years, prompting periodic curfews and heightened