Border between Kenya and Somalia is to be reopened

After 15 years, the border between Kenya and Somalia is to be reopened

in April, according to President William Ruto. This was announced in a resolution by the Kenyan National Security Council. The border between Kenya and Somalia is a land and sea border approximately 682 to 684 kilometers long, shaped by colonial treaties and making headlines in recent years primarily due to security concerns. The border's course dates back to the colonial era. Its current form was largely determined by an Anglo-Italian treaty of 1924, which came into effect after the First World War. At that time, the United Kingdom ceded the region of Oltregiuba (also known as Jubaland), west of the Juba River, to Italy, which annexed its colony of Italian Somaliland in 1926. With the independence of Somalia in 1960 and Kenya in 1963, this colonial border became an international border between two sovereign states. The border was closed in 2011 due to escalating attacks by al-Shabaab, cross-border kidnappings, and Kenya's military intervention in Somalia. In a report, Jaware M., CEO of Triple The Impact Center of Governance and Public Engagement, argues that the decision may be politically motivated. He links it to the climate surrounding the 2027 re-elections and persistent concerns about alleged irregularities in the voter registration of non-Kenyans. Critics also doubt whether the security issues that led to the closure—including the 2015 terrorist attack on Garissa University—have been fully resolved. Reopening the border presents both opportunities and risks. While the government portrays it as a security policy decision, skeptics suspect political calculations behind it. Ultimately, its success will depend on transparency, security measures, and public trust. April will mark more than just a reopening—it will be a test of intentions. Kenya–Somalia border to reopen in April after 15 years,Daily Trust