By Hassan Adan
Authorities in Somalia’s Gedo region have strongly denied accusations linking Jubaland security forces to the killing of civilians near the Kenya-Somalia border, insisting the forces operating in the area remain under the authority of Somalia’s federal institutions.
Speaking to local media on Monday, Gedo Deputy Governor Nasteex Cabdi Saalax dismissed claims that forces aligned with Jubaland were responsible for Saturday’s deadly attack along the road connecting Mandera and Arabia, which left six civilians dead.
“The security forces stationed in Jubaland whether they are Police, National Intelligence or Military are paid by the Federal Government of Somalia, and the federal government does not allow its military or police to operate inside another country without that country’s consent or under an internationally recognized treaty,” Saalax said.
He went on to accuse Kenya of maintaining armed militias near the border and suggested the circumstances surrounding the attack point to what he described as external involvement.
“Kenya has militias operating on the outskirts of Mandera, and what happened cannot be separated from that reality,” he said.
“Somalia’s security agencies operate within legal frameworks and established command structures” he added
The remarks come after a deadly attack on Saturday, when armed men ambushed a passenger minibus travelling from Mandera toward Arabia near the Beer-Awayon area, a few kilometers from Arabia town.
According to local residents and security officials, the vehicle—reportedly carrying family members heading to a religious gathering—was sprayed with bullets after gunmen emerged from nearby bushes, killing six passengers and injuring several others.
Security personnel later moved into the area as investigations into the killings got underway.
Addressing mourners in Arabia town, leaders from the Murulle community accused Jubaland forces allegedly stationed in Mandera of operating illegally inside Kenyan territory and linked their presence to growing insecurity along the border.
The Leaders questioned under what legal framework armed Somali forces were allowed to remain inside Mandera and called on Kenyan security agencies to investigate the matter.
The community leaders also demanded the immediate removal of what they described as unauthorized foreign armed personnel from the border area, warning that continued military activity around civilian settlements risked escalating tensions and further endangering local communities already shaken by Saturday’s deadly attack.
In recent years, relations between Somalia’s Federal Government and Jubaland administration have remained strained over security arrangements, troop deployments, and political authority in key border towns across the Gedo region, including Beled-Hawo, Doolow, and Luuq.
Neither Kenyan authorities nor Jubaland officials had publicly responded to the latest accusations at the time of publication.
