DIPLOMATIC INTERVENTIONS AND BORDER SECURITY: EVIDENCE FROM THE KENYA–SOMALIA BORDERLANDS (2010–2025)
Keywords:
border diplomacy, Kenya–Somalia border, Al-Shabaab, counter-terrorism, IGAD, bilateral agreements, regional security, Horn of AfricaAbstract
Purpose of the Study: This study examined the role of diplomatic interventions in enhancing border security along the Kenya–Somalia borderlands between 2010 and 2025. It sought to determine the effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements in addressing terrorism, illicit arms trafficking, irregular migration, and organised transnational crime within the volatile border region.
Methodology: The study adopted an exploratory research design using a mixed-methods approach. Primary data were collected from 187 respondents, including diplomats, government officials, security personnel, regional organisation representatives, and policy experts. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data from interviews and policy documents underwent thematic analysis for interpretation.
Findings: The findings revealed that diplomatic interventions significantly enhanced border security between Kenya and Somalia. About 82% of respondents confirmed that diplomacy effectively addressed cross-border security challenges, while 80% agreed that bilateral and regional agreements strengthened intelligence-sharing and joint security operations. Additionally, 87% rated Kenya–Somalia diplomatic engagements as effective in countering terrorism and related threats. However, challenges such as bureaucratic delays, political tensions, resource limitations, and inconsistent policy implementation hindered the full effectiveness of diplomatic initiatives.
Conclusion: The study concludes that diplomacy is a critical and sustainable complement to military strategies in enhancing Kenya–Somalia border security. Institutionalised diplomatic mechanisms, strengthened bilateral agreements, joint training initiatives, and community-centred security policies are essential for improving regional stability.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20364729
References
Abdallah, S. M., Sultan, J. K., & Stanley, B. (2024). Rwanda-Uganda border closure: The border-users socio-economic and security experiences. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 18(3), 107–118. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajpsir2023.1468
ACLED. (2024, September 4). Special Report | Kenya-Somalia Border: Rising al-Shabaab Threat in the Wake of ATMIS Drawdown. ACLED. https://acleddata.com/report/special-report-kenya-somalia-border-rising-al-shabaab-threat-wake-atmis-drawdown
Adan, J., & Oluteyo, G. A. (2025). Re-securitizing the borderlands of Kenya and Somalia to counter the operational influence of terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa region. African Journal of Empirical Research, 6(4), 1152–1163. https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.6.4.103
Afriyie, F. A. (2025). What fuels terrorism in Somalia? Perspectives from the jihadist group Al-Shabaab. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2025.2576151
Akhtar, H., Hussain, I., & Safi, D. (2025). PAKISTAN’S ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON DIPLOMACY, SECURITY, AND REGIONAL DYNAMICS. `, 3(01), 1598–1610. https://assajournal.com/index.php/36/article/view/274
Arifin, R., Hanita, M., & Josias, A. (2024). Maritime border formalities, facilitation and security nexus: Reconstructing immigration clearance in Indonesia. Marine Policy, 163, 106101–106101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106101
Cleveland, E., Glaeser, S., Lewi, L., & Lewi, N. (2020). Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: Localization in Kenya, Kosovo, and the Philippines Prepared for the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund. https://www.cve-kenya.org/media/library/2020_GCERF_report_FINAL.pdf
Gebru, M. K. (2026). Examining the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) Non-Intervention Principle as a Conflict Management Strategy in the Horn of Africa. https://nva.sikt.no/registration/0198cc5da8ce-d0ac210c-9264-44a5-969d-6e9615afaed3
Gotteland, M. (2024). Somalia’s Foreign Relations in the Context of the Latest Offensive Against Al Shabaab. Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies, 3(4), 58–86. https://doi.org/10.59569/jceeas.2023.3.4.269
Hoseinpour, M., & Mousavi, M. (2024). Enhancing urban and regional development for border security in Iran: A futures study of West Azerbaijan province. Town and Regional Planning, 84. https://doi.org/10.38140/trp.v84i.7823
Juma, I., & Oyombra, Dr. G. (2024). Coordinated Multi-Agencies Patrols and Border Security along the Kenya-Somalia Border in Wajir County. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies, 4(5), 764–771. https://doi.org/10.62225/2583049x.2024.4.5.3322
Kibet, H., Okoth, P. G., & Odhiambo, E. O. S. (2024). Exploring the Interplay Between Multiagency Security Challenges and Economic Security in Lamu County, Kenya. African Journal of Empirical Research, 5(4), 1327–1337. https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.5.4.109
Makayoto, S., Handa, D. S., & Wafula, P. (2024). The Effectiveness of Various Security Agencies’ Counterterrorism Strategies in Addressing Human Rights Violations in Kenya between 1998 and 2020. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies, 4(3), 230–237. https://www.multiresearchjournal.com/arclist/list-2024.4.3/id-2770
Makmur, M. (2025). The effect of policy implementation, management of border areas, relations between government and community welfare to security effectiveness in the border area of Indonesia-Malaysia (A study of Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan Province). Interdisciplinary Social Studies, 4(2), 103–109. https://doi.org/10.55324/iss.v4i2.791
Mardner, O., & Jackson, E. (2024). CROSS-BORDER COLLABORATION AMONG RECOGNISED SECURITY PROFESSIONALS: STRATEGIES FOR REGIONAL RESILIENCE IN SOUTHERN EUROPE. https://doi.org/10.20544/ICP.9.1.24.P04
Morgenthau, H. (1948). POLITICS among NATIONS THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER AND PEACE. http://slantchev.ucsd.edu/courses/ps240/04%20Conflict%20with%20States%20as%20Unitary%20Actors/Morgenthau%20-%20Politics%20among%20nations%20(selected%20chapters).pdf
Mwakangale, L. J., & Rwabishugi, L. (2024). Enhancing National Security: Integrated Border Management Strategies at the Namanga Border in Arusha Tanzania. The Accountancy and Business Review, 16(2), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.59645/abr.v16i2.197
Mwangi, K., & Mung’ale, A. (2024). Cross-Border Conflicts and Social-Economic Development along the Kenya-Ethiopia Border: A Case of Northwestern Kenya. Journal of International Relations, 4(3), 57–78. https://doi.org/10.47604/jir.2848
Ngari, D. N. (2024). The Efficacy of Defence Diplomacy in Promoting Peace and Security in Africa: A Case Study of Kenya. Uonbi.ac.ke. https://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/items/34b82728-6b50-448e-8bb6-f763885bbe54
Omar, S. (2024, September 15). Opening Statement H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD) IGAD Executive Secretary Joint UN-IGAD High-Level Consultations on Peace and Security Developments in the Horn of Africa - IGAD. IGAD. https://igad.int/opening-statement-h-e-workneh-gebeyehu-phd-igad-executive-secretary-joint-un-igad-high-level-consultations-on-peace-and-security-developments-in-the-horn-of-africa/
Ouma, Mr. F. O., Kisilu, Dr. J. R., & Luvanda, Dr. A. (2025). Efficacy of Fingerprint and Facial Recognition in Enhancing National Security in Kenya. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 10(9), 909–920. https://doi.org/10.51584/ijrias.2025.100900090
Owiso, M. O., & Kasera, O. A. (2025). Informal Cross-Border Trade and Security Concerns in the IGAD Region: An Interrogation of the Policy Framework. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 13(01), 9–25. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2025.131002
U.S. Department of State. (2024, May 8). Kenya - United States Department of State. United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2024/kenya
United Nations. (2022). Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization. https://www.un.org/annualreport/2022/files/2022/09/ARWO-2022-WEB-Spread-EN.pdf
Williams, P. D. (2017). Joining AMISOM: why six African states contributed troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 12(1), 172–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2018.1418159
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Galgallo Hallo, Isaiah Odour
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited.
