Allegations made by Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif and Senator Ali Ibrahim Roba—claiming that Jubaland Security Forces have occupied Border Point One (BP1) Primary School and turned it into a training camp—have been strongly refuted, with sources suggesting the claims are being driven by former Jubaland Security Minister Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur, popularly known as Abdirashid Janaan.
According to local media reports, a recent clash between Jubaland Security Forces and the Somalia National Army (SNA) in the border town of Bulla Hawa resulted in a temporary displacement of the Kenya-aligned Jubaland troops. This confrontation followed a political fallout between Janaan and Jubaland President Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Madobe.
Janaan, who previously led the successful Jubaland operation to capture Bulla Hawa, is now reportedly working alongside the SNA to reclaim the town—an indication of deepening divisions and shifting alliances ahead of Somalia’s upcoming elections.
Despite the ongoing political tension, life in Mandera County appears to be running normally. All 368 primary schools and 68 secondary schools are reportedly open, and businesses continue to operate without disruption. However, some local politicians persist in spreading claims that schools are shut down and civilians are fleeing the region.
A recent fact-finding mission by local media found no evidence of a Jubaland Security Force presence in Mandera. In fact, reporters interviewed a Kenya Defence Forces corporal leading a patrol team in the area, who confirmed normalcy on the ground.
The principal of BP1 Primary School, Abdul Majid Khalif Mohamed, and the Mandera County Education Director, Abdi Sheikh, also confirmed that the school resumed operations on Monday, August 26th, 2025—coinciding with the nationwide reopening of schools.
Analysts suggest that the underlying motive behind the spread of this misinformation could be to pressure the Kenyan government into distancing itself from President Madobe, a longstanding ally in the fight against Al Shabaab. Observers also point to Somali clan dynamics and political jockeying ahead of Somalia’s elections as key drivers of the current rhetoric.
Critics argue that by weakening Jubaland’s security apparatus, certain Mandera politicians are inadvertently—or perhaps intentionally—bolstering Al Shabaab’s position in the region.
