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Kenya announces border reopening after prolonged shutdown
Kenyan President William Ruto has confirmed plans to reopen the country's border with Somalia in April, ending a nearly 15-year closure imposed due to attacks by the Islamist militant group al-Shabab.
Security concerns behind the original closure
The border was sealed in October 2011 after Kenya launched a military operation in Somalia to push back al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate responsible for multiple deadly assaults on Kenyan soil. Among the most devastating were the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi, which killed 67 people, and the 2015 Garissa University massacre, where 148 lost their lives.
Other major incidents include the 2014 killing of 28 bus passengers in Mandera County and a 2019 hotel assault in Nairobi that left at least 21 dead.
Previous attempts and current security measures
A similar reopening plan was announced in 2023 but was delayed following further attacks. Ruto stated that the decision to proceed now follows extensive security assessments and will involve a significant deployment of forces to prevent risks.
Kenya has also expressed concerns over smuggling, particularly of illicit weapons and contraband, across the porous frontier.
Al-Shabab's resurgence and regional challenges
The announcement comes days after a report by the Mogadishu-based Hiraal Institute warned that al-Shabab has regained strength and reclaimed much of the territory lost during a 2022 government offensive in central Somalia.
"The pattern of al-Shabab's territorial recovery reveals both the group's strategic acumen and the government's structural weaknesses,"
Hiraal Institute report
Analyst Mohamed Mubarak noted that the 2022 offensive, while initially successful, lacked a long-term strategy, leading to desertions and a stalled campaign. With Somalia's government mandate expiring in under three months, Mubarak suggested further operations against al-Shabab are unlikely in the near future.
Economic and social impact on border communities
Ruto made the announcement during a visit to Mandera, a northeastern border town with a large ethnic Somali population. He emphasized the economic and social benefits of reopening the border, including restored trade and reconnected families.
"It is unacceptable that fellow Kenyans in Mandera remain cut off from their kin and neighbours in Somalia due to the prolonged closure of the Mandera Border Post,"
President William Ruto on X
In a speech, Ruto called on Mandera residents to collaborate in countering al-Shabab, framing the group as a shared threat. He also referenced the failed 2015 border barrier project, which cost $35 million but only completed 10 km of fencing before being abandoned.
Next steps and regional implications
The reopening of two key crossings is expected to proceed in April, though security remains a priority. The move could signal a shift in Kenya's approach to regional stability, balancing economic interests with ongoing militant threats.
