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THE
BORDER BETWEEN KENYA and Somalia is a long strip of land. Somalia has a
long history of chaos and civil war. Kenya, on the other hand, is
trying to maintain its national security against constant threats of
terrorism spilling over from its neighbour.
The
border area is where hordes of refugees from Somalia have streamed to
escape chaos in their homeland. Overwhelming masses have converged
there, creating a humanitarian crisis.
Huge
numbers of people are forced to live in depressing conditions, with
insufficient resources. The influx of refugees has compounded Kenya’s
security concerns, because many of them are streaming into the country
unfiltered and unchecked for possible terrorist leanings.
THE
KENYA POLICE FORCE HAS singled out the Somalia border as a major
challenge in the country’s efforts against terrorism. The country has
invested substantial resources to patrolling the border to curb
terrorist acts. The cost of acquiring the technology and equipment to
screen and detect criminals, particularly at airports and other points
of entry, is prohibitive.
In
place of technological solutions, Kenya has implemented new security
procedures such as requiring all chartered cargo aircraft departing
Somalia to land at Wajir for inspection before proceeding to Nairobi.
The planes are also prohibited from returning any passengers to
Somalia.
Maintaining
the border’s integrity has become even more difficult since the fall of
the Islamic Courts Union in Somalia and the rise of insurgency. The
radical group, with known ties to al Qaeda, ruled Mogadishu and much of
southern Somalia last year until they were driven out by the combined
forces of the Somalia interim government and Ethiopia.
Remnants
of the group have launched an Iraqi-style insurgency with near-daily
roadside bombs, land mines and grenade attacks. The new warfare has
placed additional hardship on Somalis, as many more are being forced
from their homes and are heading to Kenya.
The
insurgency generally aims its attacks at Somali troops and their
Ethiopian allies, but civilians are often wounded or killed as well.
The insurgents, dressed in civilian clothes, take aim at soldiers.
Unable to recognise them, the soldiers fire back, and often, innocent
civilians are caught in the crossfire.
Civilians
also do not know when an attack is imminent. Bombs thrown by insurgents
usually hiss a few seconds before going off. Soldiers have been trained
to recognise the sound and take cover. Civilians suffer the
consequences. The
seemingly endless stream of civilian deaths is shocking, even in
bloodstained Mogadishu. Pregnant women, elderly people, and even entire
families have been victims of the violence.
Last
month, five children stopped to play with a toy they spotted in the
street. The toy turned out to be a land mine. Before they had realised
their mistake, the device exploded, killing all five. More
than 6,000 civilians were killed by insurgents linked to terrorist
groups last year. Officials refuse to say how many troops were wounded
or killed, but witness reports indicate the numbers are far fewer than
those of civilians.
Recently,
there were reports of six insurgents with pistols executing a
blindfolded captive on a Mogadishu street. He was suspected of spying
for government forces. A second victim was killed in the ensuing
crossfire. At least 25 people were killed in Mogadishu in less than a
week.
Mortar
bombs damaged parts of Bakara, and sustained fighting broke out in
other parts of the city. Some Somalis say the insurgents have grown
increasingly confident, while the interim government has been hobbled
by in-fighting. THE
GOVERNMENT SAYS THE AL Qaeda-linked insurgents are backed by 4,500
foreign jihadists from Afghanistan, Chechnya and the Middle East.
The
toll exacted by the insurgency has been high. In addition to the
thousands killed, more have been forced to head for the Kenya border to
seek refuge.
In
December, seven people were arrested in Nairobi and Mombasa on
suspicion of bringing grenades and pistols over the border from
Somalia. It was unclear what targets they had in mind, but police are
certain a terrorist attack was part of their plan.
In
Somalia, the fighting continues between government forces and
insurgents sympathetic to the radicals. And in Kenya, the threat of
terrorism spilling over the Somali border remains a major source of
concern.
Ms Chepkonga is a development security consultant on Africa conflicts.
SOURCE: Nation Media, March 17, 2008