It is reported that the government officials in Kenya have closed down their border with Somalia for an indefinite period, banning cross border trade in the process.
The border closure is the latest development in the diplomatic rift between both nations over a maritime demarcation currently before the International Court of Justice, ICJ, in The Hague.
The border closed is the Lamu County area, one of the four borders which joins both countries together. Others are the Mandera, Wajir and Garissa Counties.
In the past few months, Kenya has taken steps described by analysts to mount ‘pressure’ on Somalia over the diplomatic affair.
Acts such as denying Somalia’s government officials entry into Kenya, detaining them at the Airport and imposing a double security check for travellers from Mogadishu have all been employed by the Kenyan government.
However, the Somali federal government has called on Kenya to commit to a peaceful conflict resolution rather than the use of such shrewd tactics.
