Kenya-Somalia border reopening brings trade, travel opportunities despite lingering security fears

Kenya-Somalia border reopening brings trade, travel opportunities despite lingering security fears

Kenya-Somalia border reopening brings trade, travel opportunities despite lingering security fears

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Kenya plans to reopen two border crossings with Somalia in April, easing a 15-year closure. Traders, travellers and tourism operators expect closer ties, despite ongoing security concerns

Somalia’s efforts to open up the country took a significant step forward when President William Ruto of neighbouring Kenya announced that two border crossings would reopen in April.
Kenya’s land borders with Somalia have been officially closed since 2011, despite several attempts at reopening.
In May 2023, the two countries agreed to a phased reopening of their common border.

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However, Kenya reversed the decision two months later after attacks near the frontier killed five civilians and eight police officers, incidents blamed on Al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgency group based in Somalia.
The 680-kilometre (422 miles) frontier has also been a point of dispute over a potentially oil- and gas-rich area of the Indian Ocean.
Somali traders welcome border opening

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Mohamed Aden Ali, a trader in Beled Hawo, a border town opposite Kenya’s Mandera, expressed excitement at the news.
“It is a big move. Traders on both sides of the border depend on each other for their businesses,” he told DW.
“President Ruto said the border will open in April, but I am requesting that it be opened as soon as possible because we cannot wait any longer.”
Ahmed Barre Diriye, a community leader in Beled Hawo, highlighted the broader ties between the two nations.
“Kenya and Somalia are connected by trade, education, security, and social ties. It also comes at a crucial time, as both sides are facing severe drought, and people need to move to access support.”
Fahmo, a businesswoman, added: “After 15 years of closure, the border will finally reopen. We hope traders on the other side feel the same way.”
President Ruto seemed to share these sentiments, posting on X: “It is unacceptable that fellow Kenyans in Mandera remain cut off from their kin and neighbours in Somalia due to the prolonged closure of the Mandera border post.”
Economic incentives and regional integration
Somali economic analyst Ahmed Khadar noted that closer ties with Kenya offer economic benefits.
“Somalia joined the East African Community, and Kenya is the only country in the East African Community that has a border with Somalia,” he said.
Kenya “can be the gateway to connecting Somalia to the other members of the East African Community.”
Somalia opens up to tourism and travel
The reopening aligns with other Somali government efforts to boost connectivity, trade, and tourism. The country is rolling out online visas and visas on arrival.
This month, Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC) passport system after becoming a member of the bloc in 2024, a move aimed at facilitating travel and trade.
Tourism is also slowly returning. In Mogadishu, western tourists have explored the ruins of formerly grand buildings overlooking white beaches and the blue sea. Fishing boats bobbed in the surf.
“The people are lovely, getting on with their daily life. There’s beauty. There’s destruction as well. Obviously, there are security issues. But it’s been really interesting, and I’m really enjoying it so far. I’d say come and have a look,” Sherry Roberts told DW, standing near the Mogadishu Cathedral, badly damaged by Al-Shabab in 2008.
Australian visitor Nick Benady added, “You may be very well accustomed to travelling in Africa, but Somalia is immensely different. The language is different, the culture is different, the food is different, and the people, importantly, are different. And I think some of the biggest hearts I’ve met in Africa.”
At Mogadishu’s Liido Beach, tour boat operators like Aweis Ali reported growing business.
“Recently, more tourists have been visiting and enjoying the country, and we’ve seen many of them sharing their activities on social media platforms like TikTok,” he said. “As boat operators, we are always ready to welcome them at beach hotels and provide enjoyable boat rides.”
Security challenges remain
Years of conflict, beginning in the 1990s, devastated Somalia’s tourism.
Mogadishu went from being known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” to one of the world’s most dangerous cities.
Opening the border brings logistical challenges, including poor roads, infrastructure gaps, and risks from banditry.
Ahmed Khadar stressed the importance of coordination: “There should be cooperation between the border agencies in terms of the immigration protocols,” he said. “Maybe after 10 years, there should be full normalisation of the border issues.”

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Security remains the biggest concern and the primary reason for the border’s 2011 closure, which coincided with Kenyan military operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
President Ruto said a multi‑agency security team will patrol the area, with plans to double police deployment.
Khadar noted that past security cooperation was limited due to Somalia’s weak government structures. “The security concern is not that much compared to 10 years ago or 15 years ago,” he said.
African Union forces, with a large Kenyan contingent, have largely restored government control over Somali cities.
However, Al-Shabab continues to pose a threat. The group has carried out deadly attacks in Kenya, including the Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi in 2013 and the Garissa University attack in 2015, and regularly targets cities it does not control in Somalia, including Mogadishu and Kismayo, often using truck and car bombs.
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