Border security intensified as rival militias clash

By Cyrus Ombati

Hundreds of security personnel have been moved to the Kenyan-Somalia border following intense fighting between two militia groups in the neighbouring Dobley town, Somalia.

Locals said personnel from the Army, GSU and Administration Police were deployed since Tuesday when the fight between al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam began.

Authorities said they wanted to seal off the Liboi border ahead of an anticipated in-flow of refugees from Somali civilians escaping the fight.

A local administrator told The Standard on telephone that the two militia groups were fighting over the control of the town.

Under al-Shabaab

"The town has been under the al-Shabaab for months, but the Hizbul Islam is now trying to reclaim it," added the official who asked not to be named.

The incident happened a week after a GSU officer was shot and injured at the border in an attack blamed on al-Shabaab militia. The officer was with his colleague when they were attacked in the morning in Harehare, 17km from Liboi town. The other officer escaped unhurt.

The Kenya-Somalia border remains officially closed, but there have been claims of smuggling of goods, attacks and kidnappings linked to the militia in the past.

The al-Shabaab militia also claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks in Kampala, Uganda, that killed 75 people and left scores injured. In April, a joint police and military force was deployed to Liboi in Garissa District following an incursion by members of the Somali Islamist group. The militia are said to have thrown a grenade into the GSU camp, injuring some officers.

Al- Shabaab, which has links with the al Qaeda terror network, has besieged the transitional government in Somalia and has threatened to attack Kenya over its deployment of soldiers to the border.