Kenya has reportedly closed part of its border with Somalia in Lamu indefinitely due to an increase in security operations against Al Shabaab militants, reported All Africa.
The announcement made on Tuesday comes barely a week after Kenya banned fishing activities off the Coast near the Somalia border over security concerns. Notably, residents living in border villages have also been banned from cross-border trade.
Lamu County Police Commander Mr. Muchangi Kioi said the border will only remain open to security officers. He warned that those who contravene the directive will lose their business permits and will be arrested.
“Those smuggling contraband items from Kenya into Somalia and vice versa will have themselves to blame,” Mr. Kioi warned. “We will destroy those items and close your shop. We will also arrest and prosecute you.”
Trouble on the Lamu-Somalia border began back in 2011 when Al Shabaab militants from Somalia abducted fishermen and tourists.
The border closure adds to an ongoing diplomatic rift between Kenya and Somalia over a maritime demarcation that is currently before the International Court of Justice, ICJ, in The Hague. The ICJ is due to make a ruling regarding the disputed oil-rich 100km Indian Ocean triangle in September.
Last month, some Somali government officials were denied entry into Kenya. They were detained at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, JKIA, and subsequently sent back to Mogadishu. In response to the deportation of its officials, the Somali federal government called on Kenya to commit to a peaceful resolution of differences rather than the use of such tactics.
Kenya also recently imposed a double security check for travelers from Mogadishu who first had to be cleared at Wajir County before flying to Nairobi.
