Leaders in Mandera County are urging the government to reconsider the prolonged closure of the Mandera border, citing potential benefits for revenue collection and economic development.
The border has been closed for over a decade, but residents and officials argue that this measure has not entirely prevented illicit cross-border trading, which adversely affects legitimate businesses.
The border closure was initially implemented to curb terror attacks by Al Shabaab and to combat contraband smuggling through the porous border.
While the closure has alleviated some security concerns, Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has suggested that reopening the border with stringent security measures could be beneficial.
“We propose that once the border is reopened, it should be protected effectively. This is a matter for leaders and security officials to discuss,” Khalif stated.
The governor highlighted that, despite the border closure, neighboring countries Somalia and Ethiopia continue to engage in trade, leading to substantial losses for legitimate businesses.
He emphasized the importance of reopening the border, especially since Somalia has recently joined the East African Community (EAC), which promotes free movement of people and goods as per regional agreements.
“Allowing free movement of goods and people is crucial for Somalia to fully benefit from its EAC membership,” Khalif stressed.
Previous attempts to reopen the border were halted due to isolated security incidents in the region.
Mandera Trade Executive Adan Hamud noted that the border restrictions have adversely impacted trade between Kenya and Somalia.
Other officials from Mandera expressed concern that the continued closure could deter foreign investors and development partners, potentially leading them to favor neighboring counties instead.
“Although the border is officially closed, business operations continue within its vicinity.
The roughly 500 km border between Mandera and Somalia still sees movement, and opening the border officially could create more opportunities for Mandera town,” Hamud explained.
He reassured that current security conditions are stable, with no significant incidents reported in the past five years.
Most businesses in the area are currently operated by non-residents due to perceptions of danger.
A recent multi-sectoral team meeting in the county concluded that it would be feasible to expedite the border reopening process.
“Significant financial losses are being incurred by the Kenyan government due to the border closure.
While Kenya and Somalia continue to engage in business, much money is lost with the border officially shut,” Hamud added.
