Kenya-Somalia border points to be reopened in phases- Kindiki

Kenya’s border points with Somalia that were closed over rampant terror attacks would be opened in phases, the government announced on Monday.

Visa arrangements between the two countries are also set for review in the renewed efforts to strengthen ties and improve trade flows between the neighbours.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki disclosed the plan following high-level bilateral talks with his Somalia counterpart Mohamed Sheikh Omar in Nairobi.

The border crossing points, he said, would be opened in three phases starting with the one at Bulahawa which connects Kenya to Somalia in Mandera.

The border point would be opened in 30 days followed by that of Liboi, which links the two countries at Garissa which will be opened in 60 days.

The crossing at Ras Kamboni – Lamu, would be reopened in 90 days.

“We have agreed to look at the arrangements in place to make it easy for people to integrate freely,” Kindiki said.

“Arrangements are in place to make our people move freely. Relook visa procedures to ensure free integration.”

The CS said the talks also considered a fourth border point in Wajir, with the developments to be announced in the coming days.

“We hope to enhance the cooperation between the two countries,” Kindiki said in a press briefing.

His counterpart Mohamed Sheikh Omar said Somalia is committed to strengthening cooperation with its neighbours.

He said the insecurity and infrastructure challenges at the border points are too immense for one country to address.

“We are on the path to addressing the challenge and enhancing border management. Somalia is committed to working with all partners to achieve a common goal,” he said.

He said the measures towards easing visas were welcome adding that it would go a long way to boost trade in the region.

The two ministers hailed their meeting as important for better ties underlining that Kenya and Somalia were still facing threats from Al Shabaab.

The meeting among others deliberated on how acts of terror undermine peace and security in both countries alongside other cross-border crimes and threats.

The ministers said there was a need to enhance cooperation and partnership adding that both governments recognise their complementary role.

“We affirm Kenya's commitment to continuous engagement,” Kindiki said, further detailing that the two governments agreed on cross-border communication and information sharing.

“We seek to address cross border challenges with a view threats are transnational. We will collaborate with Somalia on border management and infrastructure,” he explained.

From the discussions, it was further agreed that both countries would continue engaging in common development plans.

“We have reached and signed an agreement on how to review and evaluate the progress of the joint effort. We will undertake internal agreements into how to secure the gains with a view of expanding the scope of cooperation,” Kindiki added.

Kenya and Somalia had instances which nearly strained ties between the two states, fuelled by the claim for an oil block in the Indian Ocean.

During his visit to Kenya last week, United Kingdom security minister Tom Tugendhat signed a security pact that, among others, lists the opening of the Kenya-Somalia border as an issue of priority.

The Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia border point project is funded by the UK.

The implementation of the Sh1.7 billion per year project will be subject to consultation and consensus with the three countries.

The shutdowns have not stopped people from crossing the border illegally or smuggling goods.

In the last five years, Kenya’s northeast has experienced a long series of attacks by al-Shabab fighters.

In the deadliest attack, the Islamist militant group killed nearly 150 people at Garissa University College in 2015.

Somalia-based al-Shabab has been active in Kenya since 2011 when Kenya first contributed troops to the African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia.