NAIROBI—Dozens of Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers have been photographed seeking refuge at a site manned by the Kenyan security agencies at the Ishiakani border town in Kenya amid ongoing armed clashes at Raskamboni area between Federal government troops and Jubaland regional forces.
Officials at the scene told Kulan Post that “disarmament exercise is ongoing.”
This comes after Intense fighting erupted on Wednesday morning in the coastal town of Ras Kamboni between Somali federal forces and troops loyal to the Jubaland regional administration, further straining the security situation along Kenya-Somalia border.
Federal troops, recently airlifted from Mogadishu, reportedly deployed drones in the conflict.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Somalia’s Defence Ministry said the Raskamboni clashes: “severely undermine national security and represent a betrayal of Somalia’s sovereignty.”
It vowed that “all those involved in these subversive acts would face severe legal punishment.”
At a press conference in Kismayu, Jubaland’s Deputy Security Minister, General Adan Xaji stated that: “The drones used today by the Somali government against Jubbaland forces will be exposed, including the countries that supplied them. It is deeply regrettable that these resources, meant to protect Somalia from external enemies, are being used against its own people.”
