Nairobi June 25, 2023 (SD) – President William Ruto has expressed concern over the increasing attacks by Al-Shabaab, following the reopening of the border, which is causing instability along the border they share with Somalia, despite recent security efforts to combat them.

Ruto emphasized that the government’s decision to open the border was in the interest of the country, even though security incidents have recently occurred in Lamu, Garissa, and Mandera.

In the past month alone, the Al-Shabaab group has claimed at least 10 attacks in the mentioned regions, resulting in the deaths of 22 security personnel and several injuries.

The militants have frequently utilized improvised explosive devices to target vehicles traveling on major roads. Just recently, on June 12th, six members of the security forces were killed when their vehicle struck a landmine.

Furthermore, three police officers traveling in a police vehicle were killed in Mandera, near the border with Banisa, following an explosion.

The escalating attacks have prompted both Kenya and Somalia to agree on the urgent need to enhance cross-border cooperation to address the common threat posed by terrorism and to boost economic ties between Nairobi and Mogadishu.