Jubaland denies troop presence in Mandera amid rising tensions at Kenya-Somalia border
Speaking to the BBC Somali service, Jubaland Vice President Mohamed Sayid said their forces were not inside Kenya but stationed near the border.
The Jubaland government has denied claims that its soldiers are present in Border Point One village in Mandera, just two days after residents held protests demanding their immediate removal from Kenyan territory.
Speaking to the BBC Somali service, Jubaland Vice President Mohamed Sayid said their forces were not inside Kenya but stationed near the border.
More To Read
- KeNHA revises Isiolo-Mandera road project, adds new features to enhance cross-border links
- Mandera–Bula Hawa border reopens as hundreds return home after Somalia clashes
- Hundreds seek refuge in Mandera after clashes in Bula Hawa, Somalia
- Fresh clashes in Somalia’s Gedo region force civilians to flee to Mandera
- Four civilians in Mandera injured by stray bullets from Somalia
- Two Al-Shabaab militants killed in Mandera counter-terror operation
Residents of Border Point One had raised concerns over the alleged presence of Jubaland forces, citing fears over security.
According to them, the soldiers had crossed into Kenya after fleeing from Bulla Hawa, a Somali town recently recaptured by the Somali National Army following a week-long battle that displaced hundreds of people, many of whom sought refuge in Mandera town.
Former councillor Noor Diis Sheikh, who led the protests, urged the government to expel the Jubaland forces, warning that their presence posed a serious security risk.
Residents of Border Point One in Mandera protesting against the alleged presence of Jubaland soldiers on the Kenyan side. (Photo: Screengrab)
"Their presence here will attract insecurity. We are not safe yet. Many locals fled to Mandera due to the intense fighting that saw stray bullets injuring Kenyans along the border," Sheikh said.
"Only a few who couldn't abandon their livestock and farms remained here, and for those of us who remained, we are being overwhelmed by fear and anxiety due to the presence of the Jubbaland forces, causing panic that the war might spill over to Kenyan territory."
Members of the Mandera County Assembly also addressed the issue in a letter to the county’s security committee, calling for the immediate relocation of the Jubaland soldiers.
Led by Mandera Town MCA Feisal Abdinoor Issack, the MCAs argued that the presence of the foreign troops was endangering residents.
"The safety and security of our residents are paramount. We will not compromise on this issue. We expect the County security committee to take our demands seriously and respond positively within 24 hours," the letter stated.
The MCAs also called on the committee to boost security measures in the area to safeguard residents from possible threats.
Top Stories Today
