Somalia, Kenya resolve to reopen border

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Somalia and Kenya have agreed to reopen common border crossing points to allow free movement of people and goods.

Speaking after a meeting between officials from the two countries, Kenya’s Internal Security Minister Kithure Kindiki announced that the reopening will be done in phases with Mandera/Belethawa being the first to be opened in the next 30 days.

“In the second phase which is 60 days from now, we should be able to open the second border in Liboi-Harhar/Dhobley. This will provide entry from Gariisa County,” he said.

Kindiki added that the third border point to be opened will be Kiunga/Ras Kamboni in Lamu.

His Somali counterpart Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh said the Federal Government of Somalia was committed to strengthening cooperation with neighbors as a way of improving security.

Last week, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced plans by Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia to work on reopening their official border crossings which had previously been partially or fully closed due to security concerns.

“Infrastructural development is silenced by armed conflicts, we must silence the gun for the industries to roar back, we must silence the violence for socio-economic prosperity,” he said.

The agreement is under a UK- funded project dubbed “Deris Wanaag” in Somali, which translates to “Good Neighborliness,” which aims to find a lasting solution to the perennial insecurity and instability in the Horn of Africa nations.

British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot said the project is a strategic investment for Kenya and the Horn of Africa region.

“You have numerous challenges together; drought, resource conflicts, armed proliferation, terrorism but you also have so much that is good and positive together, and it is that we want this program to help bring on,” she said.