A top official from the neighbouring Jubaland state of Somalia is currently holed up in Mandera town, it has now emerged.
Daily Nation reports that for five days, Mr Sayid Aden has been in the town and is reportedly guarded by Kenya Defense Forces for 'security reasons'.
Mr Aden who the deputy to Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, a close ally of Kenya Defense Forces and the Republic of Kenya.
“We have a VIP from Somalia who was prevented from visiting Bula Hawa by some military forces but you can get much information from Nairobi,” a security source in Mandera told Nation.
To solve the crisis purportedly orchestrated by Ethiopia and FGS, Jubaland deployed Mr Sayid to quell tensions in Northern Gedo, which was allegedly met by brutal force from Ethiopia National Defence Forces.
At Beled Hawo, Jubaland claimed, Non-AMISOM Ethiopian troops blocked Sayid from accessing the town, threatened to arrest Jubaland supporters and incited locals to demonstrate.
"Organizing and forcing a demonstration by civilians against the Jubaland state, blocking the first Deputy President and his delegation from entering Beled Hawo town and threatening mass arrests of civilians," Somalia's Radio Garowe reported.
Mr Sayid is said to have been forced to cross over to Kenya from Gedo region, which borders Mandera until a truce is reached.
Jubaland accuses Ethiopian Non-AMISOM troops and FGS of plotting to overthrow Sheikh Ahmed Madobe.
Kenya is a close ally of Jubaland, with Majority Leader Aden Duale attending Madobe's inauguration in October this year.
“Jubbaland is the buffer for the whole of East African region and Kenya congratulates President Madobe for being in the forefront in the fight against terrorism,” he said.