Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif has expressed deep concern over the reported presence of Jubbaland forces inside Mandera County, warning that their continued stay poses a direct threat to Kenya’s sovereignty and the safety of local residents.
Governor Khalif said the presence of the foreign troops risks destabilizing the region, which already grapples with security challenges linked to cross-border conflict and al-Shabaab incursions.
“This is not just about Mandera; it is about our sovereignty as a nation. The presence of Jubbaland forces in Mandera is unacceptable, and it endangers the lives of our people,” the governor stated.
His concerns were echoed by former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, who accused Nairobi of compromising national security through its ties with Jubbaland.
“Kenya’s political dalliance with Jubaland in recent years has undermined our security, particularly in Mandera. It is unacceptable to turn Mandera into a theater of conflict between Somalia forces,” Kerrow wrote on X.
Security officials are yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but residents in Mandera continue to raise fears over the growing tension along the Kenya–Somalia border.
The presence of Jubbaland forces in Mandera has long been a source of tension, rooted in Kenya’s complex relationship with Somalia’s federal member states. Kenya has historically supported Jubbaland as a buffer against al-Shabaab, but critics argue that allowing foreign forces to operate on Kenyan soil undermines national sovereignty and risks turning Mandera into a battleground for Somalia’s internal conflicts.
