These days, thanks to the revived interest, the South-African football World Cup, the policy of opening towards the East, even Hungarians realized that this continent is far from being homogenous and I believe it’s partly thanks to AHU’s 7 years’ work of raising awareness.
To make a long story short, I arrived in Kampala, the capitol of Uganda which is neighboring Kenya, on the day of the Nairobi hostage drama. Uganda is the country of the onetime infamous dictator, Idi Amin, the country of gorillas, the source of the Nile, the country of Joseph Kony and the child soldiers …
Moreover, the country of the hostage drama of Entebbe …
An average reader may only remember these about Uganda.
I went to Kampala to prepare AHU’s next medical mission and I was enjoying the Hungarian hospitality of the HTCC (Hungarian Trade & Cultural Center) when the hostage drama in Nairobi broke out.
What we have to know about Kenya is that it is the most developed country in East-Africa, and they mainly live on tourism. Consequently, every attack on tourism makes much more harm than it could be estimated at the time. According to Kenyan statistics, 1 European visitor gives work to 7 employees there. So if we can believe the 2012 statistics, this industry, which provides 11% of the GDP, has kept 7 million Kenyan people.
And this is the industry that was attacked by the Al-Shabab, the dreadful army that already lost most of its soldiers in the fights, soldiers who have been crowded out of Somalia.
However, it was not the first attack of the kind: German tourists were slaughtered in a seaside resort owned by Israeli people, in 1998 the American Embassy was blown up, which took a toll of 4213 human lives. Churches, public buildings, restaurants have been attacked by terrorists, but let us not forget – remembering this last peaceful election – that in there were some hundred thousand victims of the ethnic calamities following the elections in 2008.
Violence is not unknown in Kenya or in the region.
The reason for the Al-Shabab attack was the participation in the military mission, AMISOM, which is what the terrorists want to avenge because the main aim of this mission is to stop the war situation created by the Somalis in the region and the elimination of violence would mean the end of Al-Shabab.
They are kept count of by secret agencies as an organization losing its manpower and second line too, since the mujahedin organization once having 14.000 people has shrunk because of continuous warfare and loss of resources.
Although it does not always seem so, money for terrorism is finite and nowadays both resources and true believer fighters go to Syria …
To my mind, the aim of this recent horrible attack was exactly collecting resources because the donors’ attention can only be called by actions, only cruel acts can open the “money taps” .
Uganda, as the most important member of the AMISOM, is also afraid of the near future because in their Monday message the Al-Shabab threatened them and Tanzania too with an attack by the 5th and 7th mujahedin commandos.
Soldiers were detailed to malls in Kampala, they examine with mine detectors everyone and everything that would want to get in public institutions, make everyone get out of their cars and even search the car boots – to try and keep away possible terrorists.
The security of the American Embassy not far from the HTCC was also highly strengthened: there are soldiers with rifles every five meters all through the fence defended by jeeps with machine guns
The protection of the Hungarian House was also upheld with permanent machine gun security and dogs by the Ugandan partner of the Hungarian security agency.
Uganda already knows what they can expect from the Al-Shabab: in 2010 the blast at an Ethiopian club had 76 victims; the aim of it was also revenge.
However, neither Kenya nor Uganda wants terror. Thanks to their rising standard of living, the swelling middle class wants swelling economy and swelling fortune.
Unlike in Europe, GDP here is rising and it is rising fast: by 5-7% per year. Foreigners are streaming here and not only tourists but businessmen as well. In Westgate there are the people of 40 nations who are affected by the hostage drama, so chaos could have worse effects than ever: it could set back the development of these nations with even 10 years.
This is the reason for the huge amount of statements urging revenge and the demonstration of power! This is the reason for the quick and firm attack, even at the expense of the hostages’ lives.
Nationalism, that earlier could be found only in traces, has risen to unexpected heights: there has been no example for mass blood donation or collecting donations in Kenya!
Africa is changing and developing but violence is developing with it too. With the visiting mass of foreigners, due to corruption, it can be prey to attacks against westerners.
After getting rid of the well-known terrorists and dictators of the world (Bin Laden, Gaddafi, etc.), Africa can also become the hothouse of new Boogeymen who are not well-known yet but want to “earn a reputation” with their cruelty (Boko Haram, AQIM, Al-Shababetc.).
Because the World needs Boogeymen …
And the arms industry too …
So Africa, the Mother of Mankind is expectant again:
It is pregnant with the Fear of Mankind!