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Somalia: Kenya to Open Fourth Border Crossing in Wajir for Entry Into Somalia – Kindiki


Nairobi — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki says Kenya is mulling opening a fourth border crossing in Wajir County for entry into the neighboring Somalia.

Kindiki made the revelation Monday following ahigh-level ministerial consultations between Kenyans officials and Federal Government of Somalia officials in Nairobi.

The Interior CS stated that the government will make the declaration regarding the Wajir border in the coming days.

“We are also in the process of relooking into the possibility of adding the fourth border point which will give an entry point into Somalia from the Kenyan side in Wajir County,” Kindiki said during a joint media briefing with his Somalia Counterpart Mohamed Sheikh Ali.

The proposed Wajir border will add to the three existing border points between Kenya and Somalia which the two states have since agreed to re-open in the next 90 days.

10-year closure

The border points located in Garissa, Mandera and Lamu counties were closed under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration in 2011 as a result of increased attacks by the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terror outfit which affiliated to Al-Qaeda.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Monday during a joint media briefing with his Somalia counterpart Mohamed Sheikh Ali, that the move is part of the efforts to enhance to cross-border co-operation and bilateral ties between Kenya and Somalia.

CS Kindiki said that the Mandera-Bula Hawa border point will be the first to be opened after 30 days. This will be followed by the opening of Liboi-Harhar-Dhobley on the Somalia side and Kiunga-Ras Kamboni border point in Lamu within ninety days.