A 44-year-old woman was killed after stepping on an explosive device at the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera Town.
Fatuma Madnur Mohamed died on the evening of Wednesday, August 14, after stepping on a suspected explosive remnant of war, police said.
The device had landed about 100 meters from the main border after being launched from Bulahawa, Somalia, where local security agencies are clashing for control of the region.
Tension remains high in the area amid fears of spillover into Kenya. Security officials said they had heightened alertness as fighting rages.
Witnesses and police said the explosion dismembered the woman’s right leg and badly damaged her stomach, leading to her death. Her 11-year-old daughter sustained serious injuries to both legs and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The family has demanded justice.
Witnesses said the woman’s body and the injured girl were taken to the local mortuary and hospital, respectively, but it took longer for officials to revisit the scene due to ongoing clashes nearby.
Authorities fear more casualties on the Somalia side as fighting between federal troops and forces loyal to Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe intensifies.
The confrontations centre around the strategic town of Bulahawa in the Gedo region, deepening tensions between Mogadishu and the semi-autonomous Jubaland administration.
Efforts are ongoing to de-escalate the conflict.
Kenyan officials have increased patrols along the border to prevent any spillover. Sporadic fighting has been reported just a few kilometres from the crossing point.
