Responding to Terrorism in East Africa

1. Responding to Terrorism in East Africa Dr. Peter Mwangi Kagwanja Presentation at the Conference on: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa, Center for International Political Studies, University of Pretoria 23 March 2004

2. PURPOSE • To provide a background to the problem of terrorism in East Africa; • Attempt an explanation as to why East; Africa has become a theater of terrorism in recent decades; • Briefly explore the dynamics of Terrorism in the region; • Identify and assess the various responses to terrorism.

3. MAIN PROPOSITIONS • So far, most of the approaches to terrorism have awfully conflicted with the imperatives of human rights and economic progress, and posed serious threats to national security. • Strategies of combating terrorism in fragile democracies must be reconciled to the need for achieving and consolidating democracy gains and economic stability and progress.

4. TERRORISM IN EAST AFRICA: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW • On august 7 1998, bombs simultaneously explodes in the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania 224 people—among them 12 Americans—and injuring more than 5,000 others. Bombings attributed to Islamic extremists affiliated to al Queda. • Terrorist activities intensified in the wake of September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on America • In 2002, terrorists struck an Israeli-owned Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya killing 15 people. They also simultaneously fired missiles at an Israeli jet taking off from the Mombasa airport. The attacks were blamed on al-Queda extremists.

5. Cont. • In Kenya, there are reports of existing terrorist cells in the coastal towns of Mombasa and Lamu. These cells are identified as al-Queda and Itihaad-al-Islamiya. • There are also reports of existence of roving cells of Bin Laden’s al. Queda organization in stateless and war-torn Somalia, increasing the vulnerability of neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. • Intelligence reports from the US and Kenya indicates that Yemen, which neighbors the Horn of Africa, Sudan and Somalia have al-Queda Cells. • In January 2003, there is a terrorist scare in the archipelago of Zanzibar and Pemba, leading to closer of hotels, laying down of over 6000 workers and a lethal blow to tourism, one of Zanzibar’s main sources of income.

6. Why East Africa has become Target • Proximity to and historic linkages with terrorists hubs in the Middle East. • Presence of Muslim population in East Africa within which extremists can hide. • The percentages of Muslim population in Horn of Africa are as follows: Comoros (98%); Djibouti (94%), Eritrea (50%), Ethiopia (50%), Kenya (10%), Somalia (100%), Sudan (70%), Tanzania (35%), and Uganda (16%). • Porous and un-policed borders • Weak security infrastructure • Collapse of states such as in Somalia • Presence of Israeli population and business in East Africa

7. Dynamics and Local linkages of Terrorism • Developing linkages with domestic terrorism and criminality • Exploitation of traditional networks of money transfers and remittances • Melting into needy populations such as refugees in camps, thus complicating assistance • Exacerbating international criminal networks

8. STRATEGIES AND RESPONSES TO TERRORISM • The US has declared the Horn a new front in the war against terrorism. • Hi-tech command ship in the Indian Ocean and a secretive base in Djibouti. • Financial assistance to countries such as Kenya and Tanzania affected by terrorism. The US has spent about $4 million on anti-terrorism assistance to Kenya alone, including training more than 500 security personnel in the United States. In July 2003, the US has announced a $100 million counter-terrorist money for East Africa, about a half of which will go to Kenya. • Counter-Terrorist Reward Program: a reword of 5 million for information

9. Cont. • Provision of sophisticated security equipments. In the wake of the attacks in Mombasa, Kenya has received nearly one million dollar worth of equipment for use in the airports. • The US embassy has responded to terror alerts by closing embassy and evacuating non-essential staff, causing panic with far-reaching negative effects on the economy. • Kenya and Tanzania have introduced counter-terrorist bills. • The establishment of the National Counter-terrorism center in Nairobi Kenya. This will operate under the Kenyan Intelligence service (NSIS). • Joint Trainings with the US • Visits by heads of state and government to the US to forge partnerships against terrorism

10. Impact of these responses on domestic Environment • The war against terrorism has complicated relations between the US and East African countries • Muslim population in Kenya claims harassment, and human rights violations, bringing to the fore the contested issues of citizenship. • The suppression of terrorism Bill introduced into the national assembly in April 2003 has been a source of agitation and disenchantment among human rights groups and Muslim populations. • Outstanding issues: US threat to cut aid ($3 million per year) in military aid for ratifying Kenya ratifies the ICC treaty without exempting US soldiers by signing article 98. • The US must appreciate local realities in East Africa, particularly the imperatives of domestic politics.