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Four people in Mandera County, Kenya, were seriously injured after being hit by stray bullets fired from Belet Hawa, a town in neighbouring Somalia. The gunfire came during intense fighting between the Somalia National Army (SNA) and Jubbaland Special Forces.
Mandera County Commissioner Henry Ochako confirmed that the victims were struck by bullets that crossed the border into Kenya. The shots were reportedly aimed at rival forces in Somalia but ended up injuring civilians in Kenya.
“It was an unfortunate situation where four of our residents were hit by stray bullets coming from the Somalia side following a clash between SNA and Jubbaland forces in Belet Hawa,” Ochako said.
The ongoing conflict in Belet Hawa is tied to a long-running power struggle between Somalia’s federal government and the regional Jubbaland administration. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Madobe, have been at odds for years over the control of the Gedo region, where Belet Hawa is located.
The border area in Mandera is home to many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had already fled previous violence. Tensions remain high in these communities following the recent cross-border violence.
Commissioner Ochako said the government has responded by setting up IDP camps to support those affected. Emergency food supplies have also been provided to help families displaced from the border regions.
“We’ve set up several IDP camps with food aid to support families displaced due to the ongoing conflict in Belet Hawa,” he said.
Mandera Deputy Governor Ali Maalim Mohamud added that the county government had activated its emergency response team to assist vulnerable residents, including the elderly, women, children, and persons with disabilities. The team is helping to evacuate people from dangerous areas near the border to safer locations in Mandera town.
“We are doing everything possible to support our people along the border and move the most vulnerable to safety. Our medical teams are also on standby to treat those injured in the crossfire,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident within Mandera County, three people were killed in clashes between pastoralist communities in Mandera West and Ashabito sub-counties. The violence was sparked by competition for grazing land and water, leading to the theft of livestock.
Commissioner Ochako confirmed the deaths and said the situation has since been brought under control with the help of local leaders.
“Three people lost their lives in fights over grazing land and water. We’ve managed to restore calm in the affected areas, and all the stolen livestock have been recovered and returned to their rightful owners,” he said.
The government has called on residents to resolve disputes peacefully and promised to strengthen security patrols in the region to prevent further violence.
Authorities continue to monitor both situations—the ongoing clashes across the Somalia border and the internal conflicts over resources—to ensure the safety and well-being of Mandera residents.