NAIROBI- Kenya and Somalia have agreed to reopen the border between the two countries after more than a decade of its closure.
In a joint press briefing on Monday, the Kenya’s interior Kindiki Kithure said the government from both sides resolved to have the border in Mandera reopened within 90 days.
“We have resolved that the border between Kenya and Somalia will be reopened in a phased manner within the next 90 days, effective today,” Kindiki said,
The #Kenya–#Somalia border will be re-opened in a phased-out manner within the next 90 days, effective today @InteriorKE CS @KindikiKithure has announced following high level ministerial meeting on cross-border cooperation between #Kenya and #Somalia. @Fchurii pic.twitter.com/WDCirHp8j4
— Frontier Online (@FrontierOnlineK) May 15, 2023
The border had been officially closed in October 2011 following incessant attacks from the Al-qaeda affiliate group – Al-Shabab on Kenyan soil.
Among those present in the High Level Ministerial meeting were Kenya’s Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Somalia Minister for Internal Security Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali, Somalia Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and Somalia Foreign Affairs Minister Abshir Omar Jama.
Also in attendance were Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru and other senior government officials.
