 |
| Kenyan police chase demonstrators protesting U.S. air and missile strikes on Afghanistan in downtown Nairobi, Oct. 26, 2001 (Photo: AFP). |
Reaction from the African Press:
On Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001, Nairobi's The Daily Nation (independent) ran a column by Magesha Ngwiri. "Apparently," he wrote, "The United States is not going to pulverise Afghanistan any time soon." Ngwiri could not have known that as his column appeared on Nairobi's newsstands, U.S. warplanes were closing in on Afghanistan. What he, and indeed, what nobody knew, is that the U.S.-led offensive would drive the Taliban out of two-thirds of Afghanistan in a few short weeks.
African commentators originally reacted to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States with horror and condemnation. In the initial aftermath, many seemed increasingly worried by Washington's bellicose rhetoric, and urged a considered, moderate response to the attacks. Many also blamed the United States for "bringing the attack on itself."
As the weeks wore on, and the anticipated U.S. strikes against Afghanistan did not happen, most African newspapers—with the notable exception of South Africa's—dropped the story in favor of pressing local issues. Mohammed Haruna, a columnist for Abuja, Nigeria's The Daily Trust, led the retreat with an Oct. 3 column titled "Season of Hyperbole." "For the citizens of much of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America," Haruna argued, "Sept. 11 represented pretty little change in their lives: [They remain] nasty, brutish and short—thanks in no small measure to... the U.S. government's record of commitment and support to military and economic terrorism, insurgency, military dictatorship, religious bigotry, and unimaginable genocide."
The air strikes against Afghanistan revived the issue in the African press. Johannesburg's liberal Mail and Guardian—which had argued that the United States should "revolutionize its relations with much of the world" in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks—focused on the "Rage [and] protests from Kabul to Indonesia" in its top headline for Oct. 8. Meanwhile, Tanzania's The Express scoffed at attempts by U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to insist that this was not a war against the Muslim world. ("Not a War Against Muslims? Empty Words!").
Over the following weeks, most African papers that continued to cover the war in Afghanistan were critical of the U.S. strikes. Weekly protests against the war dominated headlines in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Nigeria.
But as the cliché goes, "Nothing succeeds like success." Following the overnight rout of the Taliban in mid-November, even the most vociferous critics of the U.S. campaign—Johannesburg's Daily Mail and Guardian perhaps first among them—soon began taking a more positive view of the war. By Nov. 21, The Daily Mail and Guardian was celebrating the "liberation" of Afghan women. The advent of Ramadan on Nov. 18 did not revive the anti-U.S. demonstrations seen in African capitals during the early weeks of the U.S.-led bombing campaign.
As the war in Afghanistan concludes, the African press is increasingly looking to what may happen next, as the emphasis on the next front in the war on terrorism focuses alternately on Iraq and Somalia.
Others see the problem with Somalia as one rooted in economic disparity. An editorial in independent Kenyan newspaper The Nation (Dec. 16) pointed out that Somalia, like Afghnaistan, is a failed state and “poverty is a fodder for terrorism.” It goes on to say that “[t]he real concern here is that the gap between the rich and poor has...widened and we must close it. Otherwise, no one is safe.”
Nigeria's The Comet (Dec. 13) says that Africa will be the ultimate loser in the war on terrorism: “What would have come to Africa in terms of technical and economic assistance would now be directed to rebuild Afghanistan.”
Special Report: Allied Forces Strike Back | The Independent Online (conservative), Johannesburg, South Africa, Feb. 15, 2002.
Relief Bodies as Fronts for Terror | The Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Dec. 16, 2001 (via allAfrica.com).
Africa and the War in Afghanistan | Jide Osuntokun, The Comet (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Dec. 13, 2001.
Afghan Women Tear off their Burqas | Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 21, 2001.
Specific Policy to Fight Terror Required | Mwai Kibaki, The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 21, 2001.
Taliban: Osama Bin Laden at Kabul when It Fell | This Day (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 21, 2001.
Anthrax Sacks U.S. Supreme Court | Chidi 'Uzor and Christian Ita, This Day (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 30, 2001.
Civilian Deaths Usher in the Feared 'Kosovo Moment' | Ewen Macaskill, Michael White, and Luke Harding, The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct. 30, 2001.
The U.S. Anti-Terrorism Bill: Will Kenya Act to Protect Its Own? | The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 30, 2001.
The Dreaded Rubicon of Bioterrorism is Crossed | Ed Vulliamy and Ed Helmore, The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct. 26, 2001.
The Resurrection of Terrorism | The Vanguard (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 25, 2001 (via allAfrica.com).
Kenyan Government Acts as Bioterror Fear Grips East Africa | The East African (independent weekly), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 22-28, 2001.
'America the Biggest Terrorist' | Abduel Kenge, The Express (independent weekly), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 18-25, 2001.
U.S. Air Strike on Afghanistan Backfires, Hits Northern Alliance Base | The Monitor (independent), Kampala, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2001.
How Ready Are We for Anthrax? | Jennifer Bakwaya, The Monitor (independent), Kampala, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2001 (via allAfrica.com).
Can We Begin to Think Again, Honestly? | Zarina Patel, The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 22, 2001.
'Watch What You Say...' | Johann P. Fritz, The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct. 22, 2001.
Which Voice of America Will Be Heard? | Kevin J. Kelly, The East African (independent weekly), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 15-21, 2001.
Kenya: Mombasa Rocked by Rioting Following Pro-Taliban Demonstration | Edmund Kwena, The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 20, 2001.
Tanzania: Muslims Protest U.S. Strikes on Afghanistan | Giviniwa Paul, TOMRIC News Agency, Dar As Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 19, 2001.
Editorial: World Court Needed to Try Terrorists | Business Day (financial), Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct. 20, 2001.
Charles Taylor Offers to Capture Bin Laden | The Guardian (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 20, 2001.
African Leaders to Form Anti-Terror Pact | This Day (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 16, 2001.
Editorial: Giuliani in Error | New Vision (independent), Kampala, Uganda, Oct. 16, 2001.
Will the War Against Terror Mean the End of Democracy? | Peter Mwangi Kagwanja, The East African (independent weekly), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 8-14, 2001.
Violence Marks Anti-U.S. Demonstrations | Yakubu Musa, This Day (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 13, 2001.
Editorial: Road to Nowhere | The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct. 13, 2001.
Editorial: 'No' to Further U.S. Strikes | The Namibian (liberal), Windhoek, Oct. 12, 2001.
Editorial: One Month On | The Accra Mail (conservative Presbyterian), Accra, Ghana, Oct. 12, 2001.
After Tragedy It Is Good Manners to Watch Words | Simon Barber, Business Day (financial), Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct. 10, 2001.
United States, United Kingdom Rain Bombs on Afghanistan | The Vanguard (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 8, 2001.
Rage, Protests from Kabul to Indonesia | The Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct. 8, 2001.
Not a War Against Muslims? Empty Words! | The Express (independent weekly), Dar As-Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 4-10, 2001.
Why the United States Is Staging Such a Show of Military Might | Magesha Ngwiri, The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 7, 2001.
The Memory
Fades:Hope For Kenya Amidst Post-Terror Gloom | Kevin Kelly, The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 3, 2001.
Editorial: A Season of Hyperbole | Mohammed Haruna, The Daily Trust (independent), Abuja, Nigeria, Oct. 3, 2001 (via allAfrica.com).
Editorial: Peaceful Solution | Fred M'Membe, The Post (independent), Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 2, 2001.
Making Sense of the Disaster:
African newspapers initially reacted with horror to the terrorist attacks in the United States.
But while most African commentators seem not to have lost sight of the horror of Sept. 11's events, many now seem worried by the signals from Washington indicating what the United States might do to retaliate. "America needs to be mindful of a knee-jerk reaction, the kind whose efficacy history has shown to be doubtful, and whose consequences can boomerang," wrote William Pike in his Sept. 14 editorial for Kampala, Uganda's New Vision (government-owned).
In a Sept. 14 editorial, Nigeria's This Day (independent) expressed its "reservations about Bush's reference to punishment for those responsible. That sentiment may be difficult to suppress. But," it noted, "This is hardly the time to contemplate or waste emotions on vengeance."
David Le Page, editor of Johannesburg's liberal Daily Mail and Guardian, argued that "War of any kind is unlikely to make Americans much safer... The sins of the United States over the past half-century have been many." In order to fight terrorism, Le Page concluded, "The United States must revolutionize its relations with much of the world."
John Kamau, in a Sept. 18 opinion piece for Kenya's Daily Nation, echoed this sentiment: "No war, whatever our feelings, will silence the terrorists' resolve to strike once more. The United States must get its foreign policy act together and stop living in the ivory tower of politics, where it listens only to itself or its blue-chip equals. Time has come for it to sit down with its traditional archrivals (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Cuba) and settle for peace."
The day before, Gambia's Independent—after first running an editorial expressing the paper's condolences—had expressed a similar view in more strident terms. On Sept. 17, the Independent reported a sermon from the influential imam of the State House Mosque in Banjul, Alhajie Abdoulie Fatty, in which he argued that "America is suffering the consequences of the use and abuse of that country's power... Only years of pent-up anger and frustration of those oppressed by U.S. foreign policy could result in such an attack."
The Waiting Game | Simon Tisdall, Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 28, 2001.
Photos of Bin Laden Selling Fast, Police Hunt Vendors | New Vision (government-owned), Kampala, Uganda, Sept. 26, 2001.
The Nature of the United States | Gabriel Banda, The Post (independent), Lusaka, Zambia, Sept. 26. 2001.
Capturing Bin Laden Will Be the Easy Part | Michael Okema, The East African (independent weekly), Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 25, 2001.
President Taylor: A Pot Calling the Tea Kettle Black | The Perspective (Liberian opposition in exile), Smyrna, United States, Sept. 20, 2001.
Editorial: South Africa's Stand Correct | The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 20, 2001 (via allAfrica.com).
Special Report: World on the Brink | The Independent Online (conservative), Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 20, 2001.
U.S. Attacks Inspire Mixed Feelings in Africa | The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 19, 2001.
Opinion: Why the U.S. Must No Longer Come First | John Kamau, Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 18, 2001.
How to Make Friends, not Terrorists | David Le Page, The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 14, 2001.
Editorial: The Terrorism in America | This Day (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Sept. 14, 2001.
Editorial: Strengthen World Bodies | New Vision (government-owned), Kampala, Uganda, Sept. 14, 2001 (via allafrica.com).
In the Immediate Aftermath:
The terrorist attacks against the United States have dominated headlines in Africa since the morning of Sept. 11. African leaders and editorialists expressed their sympathy and outrage across the continent. But in the midst of this outpouring of sympathy and shock, a few have begun to look more deeply into the causes of the tragedy and into its potential effects...
Editorial: America's Isolationism Cost it Dearly | Jonathan Power, Syndicated Columnist, The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 14, 2001.
Special Report: Terror Strikes the United States | The Independent Online (conservative), Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 14, 2001.
War on America | The Sunday Times (conservative), Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 14, 2001.
Citizens Vent Spleen on Arab-Americans | The Guardian (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Sept. 14, 2001.
Afghan Mob Kills Minister | AFP via The Times of India (conservative), New Delhi, India, Feb. 15, 2002.
Palestinians Bomb Israeli Tank, Killing Three Soldiers | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 15, 2002.
North Korea Brands United States 'Empire of Evil' | Korea Central News Agency (government-owned), Pyonyang, North Korea, Feb. 15, 2002.
Bush 'Orders' Plans to Remove Saddam Hussein | The Hindu (centrist), Chennai, India, Feb. 15, 2002.
Zimbabwe: Film Shows Plot to Kill Mugabe | Luke Tamborinyoka, The Daily News (privately-owned), Harare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 15, 2002.
Milosevic on Trial | B92 Radio (independent), Belgrade, Feb. 12, 2002.
Iran: Plane Crash Kills 117 | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Feb. 12, 2002.
FBI Warns of New Terror Attack | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 12, 2002.
Israeli Airforce Bombs Gaza Jail, 300 Hamas, Islamic Jihad Prisoners Freed | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 12, 2002.
Musharraf Arrives in Washington | Dawn (centrist), Karachi, Pakistan, Feb. 12, 2002.
Argentine Peso Passes First Test | TN24horas (national TV news), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 12, 2002.
Arafat Defiant Amid Fresh Israeli Raids | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 11, 2002.
Thousands Join Anti-U.S. Rally in Tehran | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Feb. 11 2002.
Argentina to Float Peso for First Time | TN24horas (national TV news), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 11, 2002.
Vajpayee Threatens to Resign | Dawn (centrist), Lahore, Pakistan, Feb. 11, 2002.
EU, Mugabe Clash over Observers in Zimbabwe Elections | The Daily News (privately owned), Harare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 11, 2002.
Chirac Announces He Will Run Again | Le Monde (liberal), Paris, France, Feb. 11, 2002.
Lockerbie Judges to Hear Fresh Evidence | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 8, 2002.
Bush Resists Israeli Pressure on Arafat, Urges Easing of Siege | Aluf Benn and Nathan Guttman, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 8, 2002.
Karzai Seeks Pakistani Help in Subduing Tribes | Ikram Hoti, The News (left-wing), Peshawar, Pakistan, Feb. 8, 2002.
South African President Mbeki Refuses to Yield on AIDS Drugs | The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Feb. 8, 2002.
Philippines: Malaysian National Held with 104 Passports | AFP via The Philippine Inquirer (independent), Manila, Feb. 8, 2002.
Army Deployed to Quell Lagos Riots | Alex Oliseh, The Guardian (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Feb. 4, 2002.
Israeli Security Forces Assassinate Five Palestinian Militants in Gaza | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 4, 2002.
Turkey Calls off Search for Quake Survivors | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 4, 2002.
Argentina Unveils Economic Recovery Package | Clarín (liberal), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 4, 2002.
Hezbollah Calls Bush Evil Vampire | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Feb. 4, 2002.
Suicide Bomber Wounds 25 in Israel | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Jan. 25, 2002.
Israeli Army Kills Two Hamas Militants | AFP via The Khaleej Times (pro-government), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 25, 2002.
India Under Fire for Missile Test | Rashmee Z. Ahmed, The Times of India (conservative), New Delhi, Jan. 25, 2002.
United Nations Names Afghan Power Brokers | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 25, 2002.
Venezuela: Opposition Gaining Strength | Carlos Subero, El Universal (centrist), Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 25, 2002.
Australia Stands Firm on Immigration Policy | The Sydney Morning Herald (centrist), Sydney, Australia, Jan. 25, 2002.
Australian Immigration Protests Spread | Rebecca DiGorolamo and Matthew Spencer, The Australian (centrist), Sydney, Jan. 23, 2002.
40 Hurt in Jerusalem Shooting | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 23, 2002.
Zimbabwe Press Bill Splits Ruling Party | Sandra Nyaira, The Daily News (independent), Harare, Zimbabwe, Jan. 23, 2002.
Indonesian Rebel Chief Killed | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 23, 2002.
Senior Indonesian Cleric Questioned on Terrorist Links | Yogita Ramani and Annastasha Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post (independent), Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan. 23, 2002.
Lockerbie Bomber Begins Appeal | UK Press Association via The Times (conservative), London, England, Jan. 23, 2002.
Colombian Rebels Unleash New Wave of Attacks | El Tiempo (centrist), Bogatá, Colombia, Jan. 22, 2002.
Israel Kills Four Hamas Militants in Raid, Hamas Vows Revenge | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Jan. 22, 2002.
Court Challenge to U.S. Detentions | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 22, 2002.
Afghan Leader Urges Swift Delivery of Promised Aid | Shinichi Yanagida, Mainichi Shimbun (centrist), Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 22, 2002.
Putin Blamed for TV Shutdown | Robin Munro and Andrei Zolotov Jr., The Moscow Times (independent), Moscow, Russia, Jan. 22, 2002.
China: Bugged Plane Will Have 'No Impact on U.S. Relations' | People's Daily (government-owned), Beijing, China, Jan. 22, 2002.
Congo: Lava Destroys Gas Station, 50 Killed | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 21, 2002.
World Leaders Pledge 3 Billion in Aid for Afghanistan | Mainichi Shimbun (centrist), Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 21, 2002.
Israeli Army Moves into Tul Karm | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 21, 2002.
Australian Government Defiant on Immigration Protests | Ian Henderson, Rebecca DiGirolamo, and Benjamin Haslem, The Australian (centrist), Sydney, Jan. 21, 2002.