Mandera Residents Protest Over Presence of Jubaland Forces Amid Security Concerns
Hundreds of residents in Mandera Town took to the streets in a passionate protest against the alleged presence and operations of Jubaland security forces from Somalia on Kenyan soil. The demonstrators, waving Kenyan flags and chanting slogans, demanded the immediate withdrawal of what they termed foreign militia, claiming their presence is a violation of Kenya’s sovereignty and a catalyst for increased insecurity in the border county.
The protesters and local leaders expressed deep-seated fears that the Jubaland forces have been involved in harassment, extortion, and extrajudicial actions against locals. They argued that these operations, often conducted in collaboration with Kenyan forces, have led to a climate of fear and mistrust rather than improving security. A central demand from the protesters was for the Kenyan government to empower and trust local security agencies and community-based initiatives to handle the region’s security challenges.
The protest underscores the complex and sensitive nature of cross-border security cooperation in the fight against Al-Shabaab. While the government has advocated for a regional approach, the public outcry in Mandera highlights the critical need for transparency and community buy-in for such strategies to be effective. The demonstration signals to Nairobi that any security arrangement perceived as outsourcing sovereignty to foreign entities will face fierce local resistance and could potentially undermine counter-terrorism efforts.