Heavy fighting erupted between Somalia National Army and Jubaland Regional Forces on the Kenya Somalia border forcing residents of Beled Hawo town to flee for safety on Monday.

Security sources confirmed casualties on both sides.A video exclusively available to Horn 24 News captured anti-aircraft  guns mounted on a military vehicle locally known as “Technical” firing continuously in a location our reporter identified as the no man’s land between Kenya and Somalia.  

Horn24 News reporter in Mandera town said the fighting took place at the Mandera Border Post 1 where Jubaland Forces had been camping for weeks.

“You can hear the gunfight on the background in Bula Hawo.They are using heavy guns.On the streets of Mandera residents are scampering for safety as the gunfight gets closer and louder. There are stray bullets flying onto Mandera” Hassan Abdillah a Mandera resident told Horn24 News.

Artillery shelling hit residential areas and business premises

Tension has been mounting since the Federal Government of Somalia sent it’s forces to Beled Hawo and Dolow, displacing the Jubaland Regional Forces.

Fugitive Jubaland Security Minister Abdirashid Janaan has been camping on the Kenya-Somalia border with an estimated  250 to 300 loyal troops .