By Horn Africa News
MANDERA — Tensions are rising along the Kenya–Somalia border after reports emerged that Jubbaland fighters have established positions near Border Point One, only a few meters from Mandera County in northeastern Kenya.
Local leaders, including Mandera Governor Ali Roba, together with residents, have voiced concerns over safety, warning that the presence of armed groups so close to Kenyan territory raises the risk of cross-border clashes. Kenya’s security agencies remain on high alert, mindful of Mandera’s troubled history with insecurity and repeated Al-Shabaab attacks.
Kenyan authorities, however, deny claims that Jubbaland forces have crossed into their territory. Officials maintain that the fighters remain inside Somalia, insisting that Kenya continues to respect Somali sovereignty while safeguarding its borders.
The standoff reflects deeper regional rivalries. Ethiopia has reportedly thrown its weight behind Jubbaland in its ongoing disputes with the Somali federal government, a move that has heightened strains among Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
At the heart of the crisis is Somalia’s Gedo region, a strategic area where Mogadishu has sought to reassert federal control. Jubbaland authorities have resisted these efforts, fueling a military buildup that now threatens to escalate into a wider confrontation with potential regional implications.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Kenya have been accused of providing support to the Jubbaland regional administration, which opposes Somalia’s federal government and is seen as serving foreign interests.
However, Kenya and Ethiopia now appear to recognize that Jubbaland militias are causing hardship for local communities, particularly after Jubbaland forces were defeated in recent fighting in Beled-Hawo and fled into Kenyan and Ethiopian territory.
It is therefore crucial for the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia to take action to ensure that Jubbaland militias return to Somalia; otherwise, border tensions in the Horn of Kenya–Ethiopia–Somalia are likely to escalate.
