Kenya Repositions Jubaland Troops in Mandera Ahead of Fact-finding Mission’s Arrival

Kenya

NAIROBI (Somaliguardian) – Kenya has repositioned Jubaland troops and regional Security Minister Abdirashid Janan from a camp in the border town of Mandera, hours after Djibouti said it was sending a fact-finding mission to the border between Somalia and Kenya.

Somalia had earlier accused Kenya of mobilizing and arming militias inside its territory to carry out cross-border attacks on its army bases but the Kenyan government denied the allegation.

Reports from the town of Mandera on Kenya’s border with Somalia, say the Kenyan Defense Forces have relocated Jubaland troops led by regional security Minister Abdirashid Janan from Banyoley camp.

The troops who have been planning attacks to retake key towns in Gedo, which had been captured by the federal government in an offensive earlier this year, have been repositioned to a Kenyan Defense Forces’ base in Omar jili’ow village, outside the town.

The move comes as Djiboutian fact-finding mission is scheduled to visit the border between Somalia and Kenya, days after the government of Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo urged IGAD to establish an investigation into allegations that Kenya was arming rebel militias after leaders of the East African bloc proposed to end dispute between the two countries within the bloc.

Residents in the Kenyan town of Mandera set a 48-hour ultimatum for Jubaland troops and regional security Minister Abdirashid Janan to leave the town, accusing them of digging trenches inside farms owned by local residents.

Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com