Kenya and Somalia announce upcoming opening of common border

Nairobi, May 16 (Prensa Latina) Kenya and Somalia announced an agreement to reopen their land border at three points by July 1, following a meeting of ministers on cooperation in security, trade and the movement of people.

May 16, 2023
00:45

We are looking at the possibility of reopening the border, and we have decided that it will be gradually over the next 90 days through three border crossings, Kenyan Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told a joint press conference in this capital.

The Mandera-Bulahawa border crossing must open within the next 30 days, followed by the Liboi-Harhar crossing in 60 days as of Monday, and later the Kiunga-Ras Kamboni crossing on July 1, the senior official said.

In July, the two countries announced their intention to reopen the border, but it never materialized.

The 700-km-long border was officially closed by Kenya in October 2011 to stem attacks by radical Somali Islamists Shebab on Kenyan soil, including the kidnappings of tourists and foreign aid workers.

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