Plans to reopen Kenya-Somalia border in the pipeline

THE SUNDAY STANDARD|MANDERA: Plans are underway by the government to reopen the Kenya-Somalia border.

Stakeholders and security officials have been lining up a series of meetings in a bid to strike a business deal with the neighbouring country for operations to resume at the Customs Border Control Point that was closed in 2012.

Mandera County Police Commander Johanna Tonui said the meetings have been going in Nairobi and Mandera, adding that security has been beefed up in the county bordering Somalia and Ethiopia.

“We have enough security from different agencies whose role is to defend our borders and take care of the interest of our country,” he said. 

Businesses in Mandera town and Elwak used to rely on the port of Kismayu in Somalia before the border was closed. They did this due to the distance from Mandera to Mogadishu which is 600 kilometres as compared to 1,200 to Nairobi.

Tonui said Kenya shares the same boundary with the two countries and drought has affected all of them, forcing pastoralists to try and access pasture for their animals on whichever side is available.

But as the plans to reopen the border control point are going on, the ongoing drought has forced locals to rely on foodstuffs from Ethiopia and Mandera in a bid to put food on their tables.

Most of the residents have turned to the two neighbouring countries for basic commodities trading at affordable prices due to the ongoing drought and the high cost of living that has put vulnerable households at risk. 

For instance, they are relying on Ethiopia’s Suftu area and Somalia’s Bulahawa for cooking oil that trades at Sh 600 per litre and rice sold at Sh1,300 per 25Kgs. 

Tonui applauded the cordial relationship between the three neighboring countries and congratulated them for offering a helping hand to the Mandera people amid famine and drought. 

“The relationship between the communities along the border is cordial and united. There is a lot of food in Shuftu and some locals are bringing in some to enable them to put food on the table for their families,” he added.

Mohamed Hussein, a resident of Mandera is one of the businessmen who is reaping a lot from his venture. 

He said that the security at the cross border had eased a lot of their activities and people transact business without fear. 

“I have just received several bags of cement, cotton and dried legumes from Suftu and the business at the cross border is booming and growing very well. Everyone is mindful of his activities and operates with goodwill,” he said. 

Lul Abdi Hassan, a businesswoman said that the government has stepped up in its efforts to curb terrorism and facilitate people-to-people relationships. 

She added that the symbiotic relationship will be embraced as they stand to benefit when the government resumes its operations at the border point.