The African Union (AU) on Tuesday called for dialogue between Kenya and Somalia to ease tensions along the common border that led to the death of 11 people and several injuries on Monday, reported Africa News.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, urged the two countries to engage in dialogue in line with the East Africa bloc, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) process to resolve their differences.
“I’m following the tensions on the Kenya-Somalia border with concern, and urge the two neighbors to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue in conformity with the IGAD-led process,” Mahamat said in a statement. “Peace on the Kenya-Somalia border is vital to regional stability.”
The appeal came after the Somali government said 11 people were killed and several others injured in fighting between Somali forces and militants of the federal territory of Jubbaland in the town of Beled Hawo. The two forces began their battle at about 1 am on Monday with the fight going on throughout the day.
Somalia faces a troubled national election in the coming weeks. Jubbaland is one of two states, along with Puntland in the north, that have refused to take part.
The Somali government said its forces arrested nearly 100 fighters who are loyal to fugitive Abdirashid Janan, Jubbaland’s security minister.
Somalia has accused Kenya of supporting armed fighters who engaged Somali forces. The Information Ministry in Somalia said Kenya supported militants who attempted to smuggle weapons into Somalia through the border.
Kenya, however, has distanced itself from the allegations and said it wants the conflict to end. The Kenyan government has instead sent a Diplomatic Note to the chairperson of the African Union Commission, calling for the cessation of hostilities in neighboring Somalia.
Kenyan Internal Security Minister Fred Matiangi said Monday’s fighting was internal to Somalia and has nothing to do with Kenya.
