Kenya to Reopen Somalia Border in April After 15-Year Closure
Kenya is set to reopen its border with Somalia in April, nearly 15 years after it was closed because of attacks by the Islamist militant group al-Shabab, President William Ruto announced.Â
The decision followed security assessments after years of repeated militant assaults, including major attacks at Nairobi's Westgate mall and Garissa University. Ruto said two crossings would reopen with a heavy security presence to curb threats and prevent smuggling.Â
Speaking in the border town of Mandera, he said the closure had isolated local communities and expressed hope that renewed movement would strengthen cross-border trade. He urged residents to support efforts against al-Shabab, which has carried out several deadly attacks in the region. The reopening comes years after an earlier plan was delayed following renewed violence, and after Kenya halted a costly border-wall project intended to deter militants.
InFocus
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President William Ruto has dismissed opposition allegations that he held meetings with the Al-Shabaab terrorist group during a visit to the country's northeastern region. Ruto said the claims were "politically motivated" and designed to sabotage his development agenda.
In what appeared to be a veiled attack on his former deputy and vocal critic, Rigathi Gachagua, who first made the claims in 2025,
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The Kenyan government has decided to delay the reopening of its border with Somalia due to a recent surge in attacks attributed to Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group based in Somalia.
Interior minister Kithure Kindiki said that the government will only consider reopening the borders once they have effectively addressed the issue of cross-border crimes and terrorism that has plagued the area. He pointed
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Lapses in the law, coupled with porous border points, has seen the continuing smuggling of fish and a stimulant, miraa, between Somalia and Kenya, despite a trade ban implemented by the Kenyan government in June, 2019. The ban was a measure to contain human trafficking, terror merchants and the smuggling of contraband. According to Lamu County Commissioner, Irungu Macharia, authorities are aware that miraa traders and fishermen are crossing into Somalia to sell their goods through Kiunga and
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Kenya and Somalia.
