The Government of Kenya closed the Kenya/Somalia border on 3 January 2007 following the resurgence of armed conflict. Amnesty International is concerned that the border remains closed to date in breach of Kenya’s international legal obligations to protect refugees and asylum seekers. Hundreds of asylum-seekers were forcibly returned to Somalia, thousands more were stranded at the border and others unofficially crossed into Kenya where they face possible denial of their right to seek asylum and humanitarian assistance. The border closure has also restricted humanitarian access to internally displaced persons on the Somali side of the border.
