An atmosphere of unrest looms over Mandera County as the strife in Somalia spills across the border.
On Wednesday evening, tragedy struck when Fatuma Madnur Mohammed died after an explosive device went off on her farm in Bulla Hawa. This area, near the Kenya–Somalia border, has become a crossroads for fleeing forces entangled in conflict.
The device, suspected to be abandoned by retreating Jubaland fighters, detonated as Fatuma’s 11-year-old daughter, Asman Mohamed Noor, attempted to examine it in their hut. The blast left Asman with severe leg injuries.
County Police Commander Robinson Ndiwa urged the locals to be vigilant around dubious items, sharing, “It’s a heartbreaking incident. We’ve ramped up patrols and are keeping warring factions at bay from our side of the border.” He also mentioned another explosive that recently killed a donkey.
The deceased, Fatuma, lived just about 100 meters from the chaotic border, according to her brother, Abdi Mohammed. The Gedo region, which has become a battleground for control, is primarily under the Jubaland administration led by Ahmed Madobe. However, the Federal Government of Somalia has claimed several key areas, including Balad Hawo, Garbaharey, and Bardere.
Since hostilities began, waves of people have sought refuge in Kenya. Many are being sheltered in temporary camps organized by the Kenya Red Cross Society at Duse and Barwaqo Primary Schools in Mandera town.
The clash intensified as two military helicopters, carrying high-ranking officials like Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur, landed in Balad Hawo. Hassan, who shifted allegiances from the Jubaland’s security ministry to the FGS’s intelligence head for Gedo, escalated tensions sharply.
Once allies against Al Shabaab, these forces have now turned against each other. The FGS accuses Madobe of instigating the violence. Recent confrontations claimed the life of Colonel Hussein Giif, Jubaland’s police chief in Gedo, during an attack by federal forces at Tuulo Amiin village. Some Jubaland soldiers managed to escape to neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia.
In response, the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police, Eliud Lagat, visited Mandera on August 9. Accompanied by Administration Police’s Gilbert Masengeli, he called on residents to pinpoint those inciting clan conflicts and terrorist activities.
“Inter-clan feuds and terrorism are significant security threats here,” Lagat said, highlighting the importance of cooperation between security forces and local communities to combat these challenges.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
