Mandera residents protest presence of Jubaland forces in the county

Residents of Mandera staged a demonstration on Tuesday morning to demand the removal of Jubaland forces, who they say are based inside Kenyan territory and causing insecurity.

The protest took place at Border Post One, an area where the troops are reported to have established a base.

The demonstrators, many of them carrying placards with messages calling for action, said the presence of the forces has disrupted their daily lives and made it difficult to carry out their daily activities.

Residents who spoke to the media explained that they feel unsafe moving around, especially in the evenings, and fear for the safety of their children and families.

Farmers in the area reported that they have been restricted from accessing their farms beyond 4 pm, which has affected their ability to work and provide for their families.

“The government of Kenya knows this. We are requesting it to get rid of this problem, let these people vacate our farms, we do not want to lose another person here,” one elder said.

Another community elder expressed concern about the disruption to education in the area.

“We are afraid our children will fail in exams as they do not go to school. We are living in fear,” he said, explaining that insecurity has forced many learners to stay away from classrooms.

The fears raised by residents follow a deadly incident last month when a woman lost her life and her daughter was injured after stepping on an explosive device near the Kenya-Somalia border.

The blast occurred at Border Point One and claimed the life of 44-year-old Fatuma Madnur Mohamed. Her 11-year-old daughter survived the explosion and is receiving treatment at Mandera Referral Hospital.

Fighting in Bula Hawa

Authorities believe the explosive was left behind following recent clashes across the border in the Somali town of Bula Hawa.

Fighting between the Somali National Army and Jubaland forces has taken place there in recent months, with some of the battles involving heavy weaponry near the Kenyan side.

For years, Bula Hawa has been a centre of conflict due to its location and its role in controlling the Gedo region.

The ongoing rivalry between Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubaland leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Madobe, has added to the tension. Since President Hassan’s re-election, relations between Mogadishu and Jubbaland have remained strained, and occasional clashes between their forces have been reported, sometimes spilling close to Kenyan territory.

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• Northern Kenya
• Mandera
• Kenya-Somalia border
• Bula Hawa
• Mohamed Adan Khalif
• Border Point One
• Jubaland forces
• Mandera residents protest presence of Jubaland forces in the county
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Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has also raised concerns over the issue. He claimed that Jubaland forces had set up camp inside a primary school in Mandera, leading to the closure of the institution and the displacement of students who are preparing for national exams.

Governor Mohamed said that Mandera should not be turned into a battleground for Somalia’s political and security disputes.

However, Jubaland officials have rejected the claims. Vice President Mohamed Sayid stated earlier this month that their forces are only stationed along the Somalia side of the border and not inside Kenyan territory. He insisted that Jubaland troops are positioned to protect their side of the frontier and not to interfere with life in Mandera.

Kenya has long maintained close ties with Jubaland, which it views as a buffer zone in the fight against the militant group Al-Shabaab. The Kenya Defence Forces operate in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and have often coordinated with Jubaland authorities to secure the border regions.

Despite these assurances, residents of Mandera remain worried about their safety and livelihoods.