Mandera, Kenya (Horn Post) — Kenya has announced plans to reopen its border with Somalia in April, nearly 15 years after it was closed due to persistent security concerns, President William Ruto has confirmed.
Speaking during an official visit to Mandera in northeastern Kenya, President Ruto said the decision to reopen two key border crossing points followed a comprehensive security assessment conducted over several years. He emphasized that additional security forces will be deployed to ensure the move does not undermine national security.
“The reopening of the border is aimed at enhancing cross-border trade and promoting shared prosperity for communities on both sides,” Ruto said, noting the strong social and economic ties between residents of Mandera and neighboring communities in Somalia.
During his address, the president also called on local residents to cooperate with security agencies in combating al-Shabab, which has carried out multiple attacks in Kenya over the past decade. “Al-Shabab offers no benefit to our people. Kenya will work closely with you—help us defeat these criminals and terrorists,” he said.
Ruto later reiterated the decision in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that it was unacceptable for Kenyan citizens in Mandera to remain cut off from their relatives and neighbors in Somalia due to the prolonged border closure.
The Mandera border was shut down following a series of deadly attacks attributed to al-Shabab, including the 2013 assault on a shopping mall in Nairobi that killed 67 people, and the 2015 attack on Garissa University in Garissa, where 148 people lost their lives.
Officials say the reopening will be accompanied by enhanced security measures and closer coordination between Kenyan authorities and local communities to mitigate potential risks while supporting economic recovery in the border region.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff reporter
Nairobi, Kenya
