The governments of Somalia and Kenya have agreed to form a joint committee to assess the long-standing border dispute three months after hundreds of residents in Beled-Hawa town protested over border encroachment.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo of Somalia has made a surprise visit to Kenya for talks with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta.
Somalia-Kenya border
During his one-day visit, President Farmajo discussed with Kenyatta on bilateral relations and cooperation on trade, security and diplomatic ties.
According to sources to privy to the development, the leaders agreed to form task committee drawn from both countries to assess the border issues to pave way for further discussions on the fate of Kenya’s security wall allegedly built inside Somalia.
In 2015, Kenya started construction of a 700km-long Security wall along its border following deadly attacks in the East African nation by Al-shabab fighters.
In March hundreds of irate residents in Somalia’s border town, Beled-hawo accused the Kenyan constructors of building the security wall inside Somalia.
The federal government of Somalia dispatched delegates that met Kenyan authorities in Mandera over the issue of the wall.
The sides agreed on the halting of the construction of the wall to give the top leaders of the countries to engage in talks over the contested matter.
Security
Somalia and Kenya have been battling a common enemy, Al-Shabab fighters for more than a decade.
The two leaders talked about the security of the countries and formulate a means to establish the long-lasting security for the two IGAD member states.
The sides agreed to work hand in hand in the fight against Al-Shabab and other elements against peace.
Mr. Farmajo has commended Kenya’s commitment and determinations to help Somalia get peace and stability.
On his part, Uhuru pledged to strengthen his country’s relations with Somalia on security.
In 2011, Kenya sent hundreds of its troop to Somalia to fight Al-Shabab following alleged foreign and local abduction inside Kenya by Al-Shabab.
The forces were amalgamated with African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Since 2011 when Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) put their feet on Somalia’s soil, Al-Shabab launched deadly attacks on the forward operating bases (FOB) of the forces in Gedo and Lower Jubba regions.
Al-Shabab fighters attacked the bases in El-Adde and Kulbiyow towns in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
The fighters killed unknown numbers of soldiers in the attacks and several other KDF soldiers fell into the hands of Al-Shabab as prisoners.
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