Kenya-Somalia Border: No Cause for Alarm as Mandera Residents Assured of Security

The residents of Mandera have been assured of their security in the wake of reports of invasion by foreign forces.

The government has said that the situation remains under control and no threat exists within the Kenyan territory despite reports of the alleged presence Jubaland Security Forces (JSF) near the Kenya-Somalia border in Bulla Hawa.

The unease follows a fierce clash on July 30, 2025, between JSF troops and the Somalia National Army (SNA), during which Jubaland forces—historically allied with Kenya—were temporarily overpowered and pushed towards the Kenyan border.

Mandera Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Chepoton confirmed the fighting occurred entirely on the Somali side of the border and did not spill into Kenya.

“There was fighting in Somalia’s Bulla Hawa area, but it did not extend into Kenya. Our security agencies, including the KDF and police, have maintained constant patrols. The situation is calm,” he said.

Contrary to claims by local politicians that JSF troops had crossed into Kenya and occupied Border Point One Primary School, Chepoton dismissed the allegations, stating: “All 68 primary and 68 secondary schools in the county are fully operational. No school has been closed due to security concerns.”

The school’s principal, Abdul Majid Khalif Mohamed, also confirmed that learning resumed on July 26, 2025, and has continued without disruption. The school is under the protection of armed police and KDF patrols.

Unverified reports suggest residents are fearful of a potential spillover attack from SNA forces pursuing Jubaland fighters. Local leaders, including Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif and Senator Ali Ibrahim Roba, have alleged that JSF troops had taken positions inside Kenya, disrupting access to farms after 4 p.m.

However, these claims have been refuted by security agencies and the school administration.

It has been confirmed that a group of JSF fighters, after being overrun by SNA on the battlefield, temporarily crossed into Kenya to regroup before returning to Somalia.

Despite this, Mandera residents, particularly around the Malka Sufti, Tula Amin, and Bulla Geneva areas, continue with normal life and business operations.

“We are trading as usual with no disruptions,” said Halima Ibrahim, a businesswoman at the Malka Sufti crossing.

KDF patrol commander Corporal Fredrick Muirigi reiterated the military’s commitment to border security:
“We have not encountered Jubaland fighters in Kenya. We remain vigilant and continue patrols to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

Jubaland’s President Ahmed Madobe, a former Al-Shabaab member turned ally of the Kenyan government, has played a pivotal role in Kenya’s anti-terror strategy since Operation Linda Nchi began in 2011.
His Jubaland Security Forces, formed from his Ras Kamboni militia, were instrumental in liberating key Somali towns from Al-Shabaab and establishing a buffer zone between Kenya and insurgent-held territories.

Madobe’s rise from insurgent commander to regional president has been controversial, with Mogadishu repeatedly contesting his leadership.

His current fallout with former ally and ex-Security Minister Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur (aka Abdirashid Janaan) has reignited tensions, particularly in Bulla Hawa—a strategic border town captured by JSF in 2019.

Janaan, now aligned with the Somalia National Army, is fighting to retake the town, fueling the latest round of violence and instability along the border.

While Mandera remains calm and secure for now, the fragile security situation across the border underscores the need for continued vigilance, cross-border cooperation, and accurate information sharing to prevent panic and political manipulation of facts.