Letter from Mogadishu: Will Ruto keep his promise to re-open border with Somalia?

Kenya - Somalia border wall [File, Standard] With just a week to go before April comes to an end, communities living along the common border between Kenya and Somalia are waiting for the pledge made by Kenya's president William Ruto that it would be re-opened this month. The excitement precipitated by the February announcement has not waned despite little activity to show that the entry and exit points along the border were about to be re-activated after a 15-year lull. While he promised to personally preside over the re-opening of the border, Kenya's president said a heavy deployment of security forces will be carried out to ensure the move does not compromise Kenya's security. For keen observers, nothing seems to have taken place to show that the porous border has seen an increase in security officers other than the usual patrols.At the ministry of interior whose docket include security and immigration there was no indication that the border would be flung open before the end of April or soon.The communities around the border are buoyed by the mere fact that movement across the border will soon resume as announced by the Kenyan leader. However, they are also aware that this is not the first proclamation to re-open the border. Similar plans were announced in 2023, but did not materialize after Kenya faced attacks from Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terror group.The closure of the border between Kenya and Somalia was based on the terrorists' attacks and subsequently Kenya deploying its military into SomaliaThe border was closed in October 2011, when Kenya launched a major military incursion into Somalia to push back al-Shabab - an al-Qaeda affiliate - from its border. The east African nation had faced attacks from the terror group including abduction of tourists from Lamu. These soldiers were later absorbed into the African Union force, a version of which is still in Somalia and still has a Kenyan contingent based in Jubaland state.Ruto in his announcement said Kenya would re-open two crossings following years of security assessments,Besides terror attacks, Kenya has also been concerned about illicit weapons and other contraband goods being smuggled across the border. The Kenyan leader who spoke from Mandera, one of the entry and exit points to be re-opened hoped that the move would boost cross-border trade for the mutual prosperity of both Kenyans and Somalis.Since 2011 when the border was closed, a lot has changed including Somalia joining the regional trade bloc, the East African Community (EAC).The re-opening of the border is particularly critical for the regional bloc as it will deepen regional integration through a Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union, and eventual Political Federation that EAC aspires for. The closure of the border meant that informal trade took over outside the regulatory frameworks, largely due to security constraints and economic bottlenecks. This has led to limited revenue collection, weak oversight, and unnecessary risks for traders on both sides of the border.Should Kenya keep its promise and re-open the border, it will transform this position. The reopening of the common border will allow the two governments to shift from controlling movement through restriction to managing it through systems, a critical distinction that enables revenue collection and the protection of traders. Indeed, modern border management is not about closure, it is all about coordination, visibility, and legality.A functioning border point between Kenya and Somalia has the potential to evolve into a vital regional corridor, connecting Somali ports to inland markets while supporting Kenyan logistics networks as they expand toward emerging Somali trade hubs. If Somalia stabilized, traders in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera would find it cheaper to import their goods through Kismayu or Mogadishu as they are closer compared to Mombasa or Lamu.Indeed, it would make more sense for traders in South Sudan to also take advantage of this new route as they would reduce their distance to the coastline.The reopening of the common border should be understood as the first step in a broader corridor strategy linking southern Somalia to northern Kenya and beyond. Of course, issues regarding security and counterfeit goods will have to be addressed urgently so that they don't undermine trade between the two countries. While Somalia has made some security improvement, both nations will have to be extra vigilant to deal with the situation. Somalia has a budding consumer market which makes it a good place for any investor from the regional bloc who wants to exploit the opportunity presented. From financial surveys carried in Mogadishu and other cities in Somalia, the market is evolving rapidly and shaped by urbanization, high mobile connectivity, and relies on diaspora remittances. Somalia is an underserved market for regional exporters with a significant population that's relies on digital payments, rising demand for imported and ready-made goods, and a growing, young urban population with increasing purchasing power. In the Horn of Africa, the war-torn country that is on a recovery path occupies a pivotal role and as a maritime nation with established formal trade systems, Somalia offers economic relevance to neighboring landlocked countries, providing critical access to international shipping routes and regional markets. The reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border is an indicator to the entire EAC region that security improvements, economic reform, and political will can unlock new possibilities for trade and integration. For the business community across the East African Community, this is their opportunity to pay attention to what is happening in this nation that has one of the longest coastlines on the continent.

Letter from Mogadishu: Will Ruto keep his promise to re-open border with Somalia?

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