Kenyan President William Ruto has said that the reopening of the border between Kenya and Somalia has been postponed due to the security situation and political differences in Somalia.
Ruto, in an interview with France 24, said that plans to reopen the border were stalled after fighting broke out between the Somali federal government and the Jubaland administration, which affected areas bordering Kenya.
The Kenyan president said that Somali military forces had entered Kenya after fighting between the Somali government and Jubaland forces, which further complicated the situation.
“Everything was going well until a major conflict broke out between the government in Mogadishu and the regional states. There was fighting near the Kenyan border, and some Somali troops crossed into Kenya,” Ruto said.
He also said that Kenya had helped to defuse the situation, providing support to the Somali forces to reduce the violence.
Ruto noted that the political situation in Somalia has also complicated the plan to open the border, noting that the term of the Somali parliament has ended, while the term of the Somali president is nearing its end.
“It is not clear where the situation will end. We have tried to mediate between the Somali government and the states, but we have not yet succeeded,” he added.
In February this year, President Ruto announced that the Kenya-Somalia border, especially the Mandera crossing, would be reopened in April to restore the movement of people and trade across the border.
The Kenya-Somalia border was closed in 2011, following insecurity attacks by the Al-Shabaab group inside Kenya.
