Saturday 14,Dec 2024 {HMC} Kenya has intensified security along its border with Somalia following violent clashes between Somali federal forces and Jubbaland troops in Raskambooni, a strategic town in the Lower Jubba region.
Kenyan officials have voiced concerns about the escalating tensions and the potential for further instability.
The Nation, Kenya’s largest daily newspaper, reported Friday that around 600 Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers fled into Kenya’s Lamu County after Jubbaland forces overran their positions and set fire to vehicles at the camp.
Raskambooni’s proximity to critical trade routes and its troubled history as a base for factions, including al-Shabab, highlights its geopolitical significance. The clashes underscore a broader power struggle between Somalia’s federal government and its semi-autonomous states, with accusations adding to the friction.
Federal officials have alleged that Jubaland forces collaborated with Al-Shabaab during the operation, claims that Jubbaland leaders have strongly denied.
Kenya has deployed additional security forces to border areas to prevent spillover violence and address growing regional instability. The repatriation of the SNA soldiers is expected in the coming days as Kenya works to mitigate the crisis.
Source Hiiraan online
