Suspected Al-Shabaab Supporters on Trial in Kenya
Mombasa (SDN)-A Kenyan court heard the case of two men accused of illegally crossing over the border with Somalia today. One of the men is a Tunisian national while the other holds Belgian nationality.
Both the Belgian-born Hasan Kafi and Tunisian born Mahamed Debarli denied any affiliation or involvement with the Al-Shabaab militant group but plead guilty to the immigration charge.
The two men were recently apprehended in the Kenyan border town of Lamu by immigration officials.
The two are under suspicion due to the common practice of foreigner fighters joining Al-Shabaab in Somalia who often cross through Kenya. Al-Shabaab is in an on-going war with Somalia’s transitional federal government which is receiving combat support from Kenya, Ethiopia and other African Union troops.
The case may serve as a warning for Horn of Africa Diaspora youth who travel to the region in a bid to rediscover roots and visit family and may complicate the already strained relationship with Somali youth living in border towns. Fifteen Somali-Kenyan students were arrested earlier this week by Kenyan armed forces near a border town in the northern part of the country.
Judge Stephen Riech is expected to reach a decision on the case of the two men later today.
SDN-Mombasa