Kenya closes border with Somalia

The Kenyan government on Monday announced the closure of its border with neighbouring Somalia "with immediate effect". Local media quoted the northeastern provincial commissioner, Maurice Makhanu, as saying the areas of Garissa district, lower Juba inside Somalia and the lower parts of Wajir district between Dif and Liboi will remain closed until "further notice". All entry points stretching over 300 km between Wajir and Lamu are affected. Makhanu said the measure was aimed at curbing the influx of refugees and to prevent defeated Somali militiamen fleeing into Kenya. The directive also bars movement of people, vehicles and goods. However, UNHCR appealed to the government of Kenya on Friday to allow asylum seekers from Somalia to be screened at the camps. "We haven't heard of any people being blocked," a UNHCR official in Nairobi told IRIN on Tuesday. The Kenyan government took the decision to close the border following last week's infiltration of the Amuma military camp by Somali militia who disarmed Kenyan soldiers and stole their guns, trucks and equipment. Some of the stolen goods were returned on Friday.