NAIROBI Kenya, May 17 -The border points between Kenya and Somalia which were closed 12 years ago due to the threat of terrorism will be reopened in phases, within the next 90 days.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki yesterday said this would not only ensure resumption of trade between the two countries but also facilitate movement of people and promote sustainable development.
The three border points -that were closed in 2011 at the height of constant invasion and attacks masterminded by the Al-shabaab terror group -are critical ports of entry, whose closure has hampered cross-border trade and free movement of people and goods.
The border points are Handera-bulahawa in Mandera County, Liboi-Harhar in Garissa County and Kiunga-Daresalam in Lamu County.
On Monday May 15, CS Kindiki said the Mandera/Belet Hawo (Belethawa) will be 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 Garissa county,” he said.
The decision to reopen the points was made following a high-level ministerial meeting on cross-border cooperation between the two countries in Nairobi, Kenya.
It is a follow up to a meeting between retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on July 15, 2022.
The meeting was chaired CS Kindiki and his Somalia counterpart Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali where the two governments have also agreed to open a fourth border crossing in Wajir for entry into Somalia.
The Somalia minister on his part said the Federal Government was committed to promoting and strengthening cooperation with its neighbours to improve security
The bilateral meeting brought six ministers from the two countries including the two security ministers, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, alongside their Defence and Foreign Affairs counterparts from Somalia.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo chairs the border coordination and operations committee, the technical team working on modalities of reopening the three critical border points.
The team discussed common security threats, improving border management and infrastructure, exchange ideas and experiences on border security management, cross border crime, trade facilitation, mobility dynamics, and strategic and operational information exchange between the two countries.
The two countries also resolved to strengthen cross-border communication and information sharing exchange between the two countries and enhance border infrastructure and management.
On Thursday, during the launch of Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia Borderlands Security project in Mandera town funded by the UK.
CS Kindiki and his Somalia counterpart reiterated the need for renewed partnerships to secure the north from terror groups and tackle the complex and sensitive security threats jointly.
“The programs that we run as governments must be alive to the complex security that we face today as a region. We all must walk together, hand in hand, shoulder by shoulder to deliver for our people in the region,” Kindiki said.
Kenya also signed the Kenya-UK security compact with UK security minister Tom Tugendhat on the implementation of the Sh1.7billion per year project.
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