The African Union (AU) has responded to Kenya's request to intervene amidst conflict with Somalia which has escalated and affected operations in the border town of Mandera.
AU Chairperson Moussa Faki, in a tweet on Tuesday, January 26, urged both countries to engage in dialogue and exercise restraint.
"I’m following the tensions on the borders with concern and I urge the two neighbours to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue in conformity with the IGAD led process,” he stated.
He added that peace and stability on the Kenya-Somalia border was vital to regional stability.
Faki's statement came a day after Kenya wrote to the AU asking the regional body to intervene and resolve what it described as a looming humanitarian crisis in the region.
The conflict between Somalia National Forces and regional Jubaland fighters in Bula Hawo near Mandera County has led to the death of nine people and the destruction of infrastructure worth millions.
Over the past twenty-four hours, Mandera residents have been unable to communicate with their friends and relatives in other parts of the country after communication masts by Kenyan telcos were destroyed.
Kenya has been accused of siding with the Jubaland faction which is fighting autonomy from Somalia.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, January 25, the government noted the increased tension could pose a security threat for Kenya.
"Kenya’s primary concern is that the renewed fighting engenders large scale displacement of civilians inside Somalia and increasingly generates large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers to Kenya, therefore aggravating the already dire humanitarian situation in Somalia and in the refugee camps in Kenya,” read part of the statement.
The two neighbouring states have experienced a diplomatic fallout due to a number of issues.
Recently, Somalia cut ties with the Kenyan government by recalling all its diplomats back to the country and ordered Kenya's envoy to leave Mogadishu.
The Somalia government cited the move was a result of Kenya constantly interfering in its internal affairs.
The dissension escalated as Somalia barred Visa on arrival for Kenyans from December 13, 2020. This meant that diplomatic passport holders would require approval from Somalia's Foreign Affairs Ministry in order to be allowed in the country.
