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Africa |
VIOLENCE
Africa wants to fight all forms of terrorism, especially terrorism resulting from the inequalities existing in the world today
11 September 2001 was a terrible day for the people of the United States, and the governments and peoples of Africa stood side by side with families hard hit by the attacks on New York and Washington. They were adamant in condemning those who organised and those who carried out the dreadful deeds. But deep-thinking people who wanted to understand why the attacks had taken place, emphasized the causes (hidden or obvious) and compared them with other infamous tragedies. They asked themselves: «How will it be possible to escape from this never-ending cycle of violence in which humanity seems to be caught up in?».
The people of Africa’s spontaneous solidarity with the far-off people of the United States, did not find a one-hundred per cent echo with their governments and their Media. You see, it was an opportunity for some Africans to recall what had happened following much bloodier events which occurred in various parts of Africa — Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Congo RDC, areas of the Great Lakes, Liberia and in Sierra Leone. What kind of sympathy and solidarity came from Africa’s so-called «friends and partners» following these events? Truth to say, not much.
Fundamentalism getting ever-closer
The fact is, don’t think that in Africa, we are sheltered from possible Islamic fundamentalist intrigues. The weekly magazine, L’Autre Afrique, published in Paris, states: «There was growing Islamic fundamentalism in Africa south of Sahara during the 1990s». In its issue of 10-16 October 2001, the magazine cited the cases of South Africa, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Nigeria, and concluded that «African Islamic fundamentalism still appears to be free from terrorist activities», but «most Western intelligence services affirm that certain groups could, one day, turn to terrorist activities».
In recent years, a multitude of Arab-Muslim non-governmental organisations and associations have been sprouting up in Africa. These can be described quite simply as «Islamic». They make their presence felt by the construction of many mosques, and the establishment of «Islamic Institutes» and «Franco-Arabic schools». Their message is spread far and wide, sometimes in a very subtle way (avoiding names), by organising evening gatherings with a definite religious theme, an ever-increasing number of public conferences, and making use of the Media.
In certain places, for example, in some of Nigeria’s States, a further step has been taken by adopting Muslim Sharia Law, as these States’ basic law. Obviously, the local Christian populations have reacted against the installation of the Sharia, and this has given rise to fatal confrontations. An extreme reaction has been the arrival on the scene of so-called Christian sects, with the stated aim of preventing further progress by Islamic fundamentalists. It seems that local governments are keeping well clear of this development.
An ever-changing situation
Since 7 October, the Americans have been committed to military action in Afghanistan. Also, there were some initial unfortunate declarations by Washington about «Islam’s links with terrorism». This caused a certain amount of disappointment among a number of African Muslims, leading to a gradual dissociation from the American government, and an increasing support for «the sister country of Afghanistan» and Oussama Ben Laden, whose guilt in the attacks seems far from being proved.
Such was the situation in Senegal where various demonstrations were organized. The organisers of a large Muslim gathering in Dakar on 28 October, said: «The charges against Ben Laden impose a choice on us: To be Muslim and face up to our responsibilities as Muslims, or to disavow us and descend into abuse of authority and hypocrisy. (...) It’s quite simply a conflict between civilizations: the Muslim East and the Judeo-Christian West.»
This goes clear against the position of Senegal’s Head of State, Abdoulaye Wade, who opted against the call to Jihad launched by Ben Laden to Muslims worldwide. President Wade sided with the Americans, calling for a «massive support of the Anglo-Americans in their action.»
On 17 October, Mr. Wade organized an African Summit in Dakar, to discuss terrorism and security issues. But only 28 of the Organisation of African Unity’s (OAU) 53-member countries send delegations, and only 10 Heads of State attended. And instead of an African anti-terrorism pact, as suggested by President Wade, participants made do with a simple declaration.
The text of this declaration underlines «the need for making Africa a continent free from any terrorist act and support for terrorism. All African countries are invited to ratify the OAU convention relating to the prevention and the fight against terrorism; also to ratify similar United Nations conventions; and to take any necessary legal, diplomatic, financial and other steps to fight against terrorism on a national, sub-regional, regional and world level».
Nevertheless, the Summit «noted» the project of an anti-terrorism «African pact,» and «what had been discussed, together with the proposals put forth at the time of the meeting.» All the proposals are considered to be «of great benefit» as they would be used in preparing and enriching further discussions, within the framework of an extraordinary OAU Summit, recommended by the Dakar Summit.
Against all forms of terrorism
Apart from some rare exceptions, all Africans are convinced that international terrorism must be combatted, and this includes all forms of terrorism, wherever it comes from and of whatever kind — and not just from the Muslim world. The Senegalese journalist, Babacar Justin Ndiaye, says that Africa is already damaged by «harbingers of terrorism, resulting from failings in democracy, bad governance and poverty». As for President Wade, he talks about Africa as being a «sieve for every kind of criminal» — the rampant poverty making it easy pickings for those who want to «stir up trouble».
Algeria’s former President, Ahmed Ben Bella, and Senegal’s former Prime Minister, Mamadou Dia, made similar statements. In a common appeal to the whole world, made a few days after 11 September, they pointed out that «terrorism and fanaticism originate whenever there’s poverty and despair, and wherever the “disinherited of the earth” feel they lack justice». They say these are the real reasons why terrorist actions such as those on 11 September took place, and they call for positive and immediate action to foster more humanity to our wounded planet.
«We are convinced that it’s necessary to fight against those who instigate violence and injustice which bathe the world in blood. But to be truly fairminded and effective, we’re not referring only to those responsible for the recent attacks in the United States. It’s also necessary to evoke, if only for justice’s sake, the thousands of people, victims of overpowering imbalances in living conditions in all continents, and subjected to a world system so blatantly elitist.
«We think that just one person killed in the United States — a victim of violence, merits as much consideration as one person in Africa who dies — a victim of hunger or AIDS. But let’s take care that the same goes the other way round. The international community and the Nations who form it, must feel a responsibility for tackling both these evils and others, existing in Africa. Refusal to help, intolerance, establishing elitist ways of doing things, wound and kill in much the same way as terrorism.
«It’s for this reason that it would be unrealistic and unjust to want to establish an international coalition only against terrorism, without being worried about establishing a similar international coalition to ensure for all human beings — victims of violence — the right to life, education, citizenship, development.
The Universal Declaration of Humans Rights establishes clear obligations. In many countries, however, we must note, that on these fundamental points, the Declaration remains tragically a dead letter».
A world which changes
These two «fathers» of African independence wonder: «Why not convene urgently, at the level of the United Nations, international meetings dealing with issues ranging from violence, terrorism and development.(1) Then ask the Americans to stop preaching an artificial crusade against what it states to be the evil coming from outside». They entreat the United States «to agree to consider, together with other world powers, the way in which it is a recipient of an elitist world system of which the effects foster a spirit of violence and revenge».
Badasar Diouf writes: «According to an increasingly widespread opinion in Africa and elsewhere, this “old world” must be changed. «It has already changed since 11 September, and the United States must become aware of this new deal and redirect its vision of the world» And President Wade hammers home the point: «And at all costs, Africa must be present in this change and take part in the defining of the new world order, instead of remaining outside the decisions which will define tomorrow’s world.
(1)The 10-17 November 2001 General Assembly of the United Nations debated the fight against terrorism and the war in Afghanistan. Secretary-General, Koffi Annan, said that «events which took place on 11 September made an in-depth dialogue between world civilisations, an absolute necessity. He also stated that «poverty nurtures violence.»
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