December 19th local time, the Federal Government of Somalia issued a statement saying, “The Somali government is closely monitoring Kenya’s military mobilization in the Mandela region on the border between the two countries.”
The statement said, “The Kenyan government is arming and deploying militias with the aim of destabilizing Somalia”.
The statement also said, “Kenya’s actions may affect the stability of the Horn of Africa, and Somalia will take all necessary steps to ensure political independence and territorial integrity”.
Earlier, Kenyan media reported that after Somalia announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Kenya, the Somali National Army deployed troops in the border area between the two countries.
So far, Kenya has not yet taken a position.
