[ Back to Volume15 #3 Table of Contents ] [ back to Africa Recovery home ]
[ Email this article ]
From Africa Recovery, Vol.15 #3, October 2001, page 3
Africans anxious over terrorism, war
Condolences, denunciations of terror attack, and calls for caution
Every government in Africa sent condolences and messages of
solidarity to the US following the 11 September terrorist attack.
Some African nations lost citizens in the World Trade Centre.
All worry about the economic repercussions for the continent
(see box, below). Many are concerned about the potential political
fallout, with some countries listed by the US as having harboured
terrorists and others confronting violent opposition groups within
their own borders. A number of African countries also have directly
experienced terrorist attacks, including the 1998 bombings of
the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which claimed hundreds
of African lives.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan near World Trade Centre ruins, with New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (left) and Governor George Pataki.
Photo: UN / Eskinder Debebe
The African reactions, commentaries and debates on the current tragedy reflect varying viewpoints. Along with many condemnations of terrorism, there also have been numerous cautionary statements against blind vengeance and retaliation. Following is a selection of initial responses:
Olusegun Obasanjo, President, Nigeria: The perpetrators of this heinous crime that has resulted in huge losses of lives and property, must not go unpunished. Terrorism and terrorists must never be given comfort. The spirit of democracy must never be downcast but must be buoyed up and made unconquerable....
The world we live in now is not just enough. It is not equitable enough. Unless America can lead us to a world that is more just and equitable, we may not get out of the problem of terrorism. We may catch and punish the culprits this time, but there will be more culprits in future.
Thabo Mbeki, President, South Africa: The memory is still fresh in our minds of the hundreds of Africans who died when US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were attacked by people who have clearly identified the US government as their enemy. As with those who died in the hijacked planes and in New York, none of these Africans could ever be accused of having been involved in planning or conducting acts of war. They died because those who killed them have little or no regard for human life.
When our movement [the African National Congress] decided to take up arms to fight for the defeat of the apartheid system, the decision was taken that all efforts should be made to avoid the loss of human lives.... This posture was maintained throughout the three decades when the conduct of an armed struggle was an important part of the strategy of our movement. Even as our enemy and its friends denounced our movement as terrorist, we took strict measures to avoid the use of terror against the people....
Clearly, there are many issues in various parts of the world that demand a just resolution. Not least among these is the restoration of the rights of the people of Palestine.
Yoweri Museveni, President, Uganda: Clear-headed freedom fighters always avoid targeting non-combatants. As we extend our condolences to the people of the United States of America and to President George W. Bush, we call upon the world to act together to end terrorism.... Terrorism needs to be eradicated as we fight against all forms of oppression.
Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations: Terrorism threatens every society. As the world takes action against it, we have all been reminded of the need to address the conditions that permit the growth of such hatred and depravity. We must confront violence, bigotry and hatred even more resolutely. The United Nations' work must continue as we address the ills of conflict, ignorance, poverty and disease.
Doing so will not remove every source of hatred or prevent every act of violence. There are those who will hate and who will kill even if every injustice is ended. But if the world can show that it will carry on, that it will persevere in creating a stronger, more just, more benevolent and more genuine international community across all lines of religion and race, then terrorism will have failed.
Organization of African Unity, communiqué of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution: Condemns unequivocally the horrific terrorist attacks that have caused enormous loss of human life and destruction.... Expresses to the government and people of the United States of America the full solidarity and the deepest condolences of the OAU and the entire people of Africa over this tragedy which affected not only the people of the USA, but humanity as a whole.... Stresses the urgent need to bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of these terrorist attacks and calls on the international community to work in a more coordinated and determined manner to prevent and combat terrorism.
The Sowetan, South African daily newspaper, editorial: There should be no wavering about the atrocities meted against innocent civilians in the September 11 attack.... That kind of barbaric and inhuman behaviour is one that not only warrants unequivocal condemnation, but a telling response as well.... Angry, blind retaliation that is not thought through thoroughly, is not the answer. Dividing the world into two blocs, one pro-US and another not, is perhaps more dangerous if not as insane as the thinking that inspired the World Trade Centre bombers. The options which the Americans have placed to the world, that you are "with us or against us," is not helpful.
America's attitude highlights the need for a trusted international body, like the United Nations, to drive the urgent search for a solution. We believe anything short of the UN being in charge, will divide not only nationals against each other, but nations will be forced into conflict, caused by their choice of sides.
Cheikh Boureïma Abdou Daouda, rector, University of Niamey mosque, Niger: The danger is that if this [US] response becomes a war of civilizations or religion, there will be no people, no person who will not defend his faith to the death. Christians, Jews and Muslims must define terrorism together to better fight against it and to avoid any unintended consequences in the American response, [including any] equation between Muslims and terrorists.
Baba Leigh, imam, Kanifing East mosque, Banjul, Gambia: The whole Muslim Ummah [people] observed the American tragedy with shock and sympathized with Americans.... Islam is a religion of Allah which only means peace and forbids any violent activity, which is bound to bring bloodshed, destruction and suffering to the people.
Alhajie Abdoulie Fatty, imam, State House mosque, Banjul, Gambia: America is suffering the consequences of the use and abuse of that country's veto power on smaller states.... Years of pent-up anger and frustration of the oppressed with US foreign policy could only result in such an attack.
Addis Tribune, Ethiopian newspaper, editorial: The war against terrorism is not a religious war and must not be portrayed as such. Islam, like Christianity, does not condone the mass murder of innocent civilians and it must be understood that the enemy in this case does not uphold the moral values of Islam and is seeking essentially political objectives. It should not be forgotten, furthermore, that Muslims died in the recent terrorist attacks on the US and that Muslim nations are also victims of fundamentalist terrorists.
The Daily Graphic, Ghanaian newspaper, editorial: While the incident has already been labeled terrorist, we wish to caution that there is the need for the United States in particular and the Western allies in general to exercise restraint and circumspection as investigations go on to unravel the identities of those behind the act and their motives.... Without the whole truth about the identity of the perpetrators emerging, justice cannot be done and also prevention of similar incidents could be made more difficult. In all such cases where people lose their loved ones, one naturally expects the general call for revenge but that is where care needs to be taken so that an innocent person is not unnecessarily punished.
Abdoulaye Bathily, professor of history, former energy minister, Senegal: The tragic events of 11 September remind us that non-violence and peace are the most precious elements for assuring justice and equity in both relations among people and in international relations. We all observe that beyond the emotions that have been stirred up, these events have rekindled passionate debates about the current new international order.
In this respect, we should note the speed with which governments are ready to mobilize major financial resources to join the struggle against terrorism. These same countries, however, declare that they do not have enough money to fight against poverty, to reduce ever widening social inequalities, to promote shared well being, or to relieve the debt of the poorest countries. Yet they always find money for war. That is the great contradiction of the contemporary world.
|
*****Box 1***** Africa hit hard by economic shockwaves Beyond the dozens of Africans believed to have been killed in the 11 September terrorist attack on New York's World Trade Centre, thousands more will soon perish as the economic shockwaves reach the African continent. According to the World Bank, an additional 20-40,000 children under five could die worldwide because of a more severe global economic downturn and worsening poverty. About half those deaths will likely be in Africa. World Bank President James Wolfensohn noted on 1 October that the economic aftermath of the attack will exact "another human toll that is largely unseen and one that will be felt in all parts of the developing world, especially Africa." World Bank economists estimate that economic growth in developing countries overall will be lower by 0.5-0.75 per cent in 2002 than was projected before the attack. Although they do not have specific regional estimates, they believe that Africa will be "worst hit." The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in an updated forecast issued on 10 October, believes that developing country growth in 2002 will not exceed 4.25 per cent, down a full percentage point from its earlier estimate of 5.25 per cent. For Africa specifically, the forecast has been revised from 4.25 per cent to 3 per cent, only slightly above the continent's population growth rate (see graph). Africa will feel the effects of 11 September in different ways. Slower growth in the US and other industrialized countries will lower demand for exports from all developing regions. Commodity prices for African exports were previously forecast to fall in 2001 by an average 7.4 per cent from last year, and now will likely drop further. Because of greater insecurity, trade insurance and transport costs are simultaneously being pushed upward. In addition, the worldwide decline in tourism will bring serious losses to a sector that accounts for 10 per cent of the continent's export receipts. As a result of these combined effects, the number of Africans living in poverty, according to the World Bank, will probably increase by 2 million more than would otherwise have been the case, while another 2-3 million will be driven deeper into poverty. It is not clear how world oil prices will be affected by the war in Central Asia. A few weeks after the 11 September attack, oil was about $5 per barrel cheaper than before. This depressed the earnings of Africa's major oil exporters (including Nigeria, Algeria and Gabon), but helped Africa's many poor oil-importers by lowering their costs. However, if the war is prolonged or political instability spreads to some of the major Middle East exporters, oil prices could again be pushed upward, reversing the effects in Africa. Because of Africa's additional economic difficulties, combined with a likely decline in private capital flows due to reduced investor confidence, the World Bank urges a significant boost in foreign aid to the poorest countries of Africa and other regions. This is not very likely to happen, however. Just before the attack, the World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund projected an additional 7.1 per cent fall in aid to Africa in 2002, after several years of decline. The need for massive humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries will place even more strain on available donor resources. |
[ Back to Volume15 #3 Table of Contents ] [ back to Africa Recovery home ]
[ Email this article ]
[ New Releases ] [ Magazine - Current/Past issues ] [ Index / Search ] [ About us ]
[ UN Home ] [ UN News ] [ UN Key Reports ] [ UN Africa Links ]
Material from this article may be freely reproduced, with
attribution to
"Africa Recovery, United Nations".
We would appreciate a copy of the reproduction.
Africa Recovery
Room S-931
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA
Tel: (212) 963-6857
Fax: (212) 963-4556
Email: africa_recovery@un.org
Website: www.africarecovery.org
Contact us by email: africa_recovery@un.org