Kenyan Woman Injured by Stray Bullet from Clash Between Somalia Security Agencies Near Mandera Border

 

MANDERA – Tension remains high along the Kenya-Somalia border after a Kenyan woman was injured by a stray bullet from an exchange of gunfire between two Somali security agencies in Bulla Hawa, a border town opposite Mandera.

The incident occurred on October 23, 2025, in the Kullun area, according to local police reports. Sources indicate that the Somali security agencies engaged in a fierce shootout following a disagreement, during which a stray bullet crossed the border into Kenyan territory, hitting a woman on the Mandera side.

The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, sustained a gunshot wound to her right leg. She was quickly rushed to a nearby health facility before being transferred to the Mandera County Referral Hospital, where she was admitted in stable condition.

Kenyan authorities have expressed concern over the recurrent security incidents along the border, saying they have officially sought an explanation from Somali officials in Bulla Hawa. The situation has caused unease among local residents, who fear the fighting could escalate and spill over into Kenya.

This is not the first time civilians on the Kenyan side have been affected by conflict in Somalia. On September 28, 2025, another woman was injured when a stray bullet—fired during clashes in Bulla Hawa—fell across the border and struck her upper right arm. She underwent surgery at Mandera Referral Hospital, where doctors successfully removed the lodged bullet.

Similarly, in August 2025, tragedy struck when 44-year-old Fatuma Madnur Mohamed was killed after stepping on a suspected explosive remnant of war in Mandera Town. Authorities later determined the device had landed roughly 100 meters from the border, reportedly launched from Somalia’s Bulla Hawa, where rival factions of Somali security forces were engaged in heavy fighting.

Residents and local officials have voiced growing concern over the increasing insecurity along the Kenya-Somalia frontier. The Bulla Hawa town, located in Somalia’s Gedo region, has long been a flashpoint of contention between forces loyal to the Federal Government of Somalia and the semi-autonomous Jubaland administration. The ongoing power struggle has led to intermittent gunfights, mortar shelling, and civilian casualties on both sides of the border.

Despite diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, occasional confrontations continue to disrupt the area’s fragile peace. The Mandera border remains a vital lifeline for cross-border trade and social interaction, as residents from both countries frequently traverse the crossing for shopping and family visits.

Kenyan security agencies have since increased patrols along the border and heightened vigilance to prevent further incidents. Local authorities have also urged residents to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity or unexploded ordnance.

With sporadic clashes persisting only a few kilometers from the border, humanitarian agencies have warned of the potential displacement of Somali civilians into Kenya if hostilities intensify.

For now, calm has returned to the area, but residents remain on edge—hoping that regional leaders will take decisive steps to bring lasting peace to the troubled Mandera-Bulla Hawa border region.