Shouting match between Kenya and Somalia reaches new low

Kenya has hinted that it could annex parts of Somalia to keep al-Shabab terrorists out of its territory.

Tension between Kenya and Somalia soared last week following heavy fighting along the border.

The clashes involved Somali government troops and forces loyal to Ahmed Madobe, the leader of Jubbaland, which is one of Somalia’s five semiautonomous states.

At least 11 people were killed in the Somali border town of Bula-hawo.

Kenyan authorities said the fighting spilled over into Kenya, after Somali government troops pursued Jubbaland forces that had crossed over the border.

“This action amounts to an unwarranted attack by foreign soldiers with the intention of provoking Kenya,” the Kenyan report reads.

It also alleged that Somali soldiers destroyed properties of Kenyans in the border town of Mandera.

“Half of Mandera town has now been deserted,” said Mohammed Mahmoud, a senator from Mandera County.

“We already have internally-displaced people and therefore our plea is that our government should intervene.”

Kenya’s Mandera Governor Ali Roba warned Wednesday that further conflict between Somali forces would put Mandera residents in limbo.

Somalia also accused Kenya of harboring a fugitive Jubbaland minister who was arrested by Mogadishu for “serious crimes” but fled from prison in January.

The Somali government also asked Kenya to “halt its ongoing violations” of Somalia’s sovereignty and encroachment in the border areas. The situation in the area remains precarious as Jubbaland forces are regrouping for possible fresh clashes, despite efforts to ease the hostility.

Somalia’s Turkish-trained armed forces have been deployed to Bula-hawo’s Gedo region in a move indicating that Mogadishu wants to expand its control beyond the capital.

The deployment was denounced by local Somali political opposition groups who accused President Abdullahi Farmajo of misusing the national army for political purposes.