Kenya has not encroached on our territory, says Somalia

A report tabled before Somali's parliament on Monday disputed claims that Kenya had encroached on Somalia's territory in its ongoing construction of a security wall.

The joint report by the Foreign Relations and Interior committee, according to Goobjoog News, is based on a fact-finding mission in Bula-Hawo, Doolow and Elwak. It also notes that contrary to earlier reports, beacons on the border had been removed.

The story was posted yesterday on the African Union Mission to Somalia's daily Internet update.

The report, however, noted there was a ditch and trees felled in the area, but it could not be established if it was on the Somali or Kenyan side of the border.

"There is no wall in the said areas but the committees noted a ditch measuring 700 by 4 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep," read the report in part.

The findings come following a heated debate last week over reports that Kenya had encroached into Somalia's territory, with MPs giving the committee a 48-hour-ultimatum to censure Kenya and draft legislation to stop any negotiations on the issue until further notice.

The committee, however, recommended further investigation into the matter to establish clearly where the boundaries between the two countries lie.