Congratulations, happiness and relief seem to be the most common reactions from the African continent as the news of Osama bin Laden’s killing spreads. However, some African leaders warn for revenge and call for increased vigilance. Meanwhile, a Libyan air force colonel publicly wonders if the United States can also kill Gaddafi.
Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga:
“Kenyans are happy and thank the US people, the Pakistani people and everybody else who managed to kill Osama. Osama's death can only be positive for Kenya, but we need to have a stable government in Somalia. The loss of its leader may first upset the movement but then it will regroup and continue."
Mohamed Osman Arus, spokesman for Somalia's militant group al-Shabaab:
"The Americans have previously killed other Islamist leaders. Their students will continue the jihad and we shall retaliate against the Americans, Israel, Europe and Christians in Somalia with destructive explosions."
Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete said the news was a relief but that the fight to bring the perpetrators of terror attacks to justice was far from over.
Ahmed Omar Bani, military spokesperson for the transitional national council in Libya:
“A big part of international terrorism has come to an end with the death of Bin Laden. It would be a great present if the United States also killed Muammar Gaddafi.”
Ugandan foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa:
“It’s good news to us (Uganda) and it’s really a momentous event. Osama and his terrorist groups were a security threat worldwide. We believe his death will undermine the efforts of al Qaeda.”
The Sudanese government has so far not commented on bin Laden's killing. It faces a dilemma. Welcoming his death might bring Khartoum closer to its goal of getting removed from a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. But it might also anger Islamists and ordinary Sudanese who remember bin Laden's investments in roads and infrastructure.
Ebrahim Ebrahim, spokesperson for South Africa's ruling ANC political party:
“We hope that Bin Laden’s death will greatly contribute towards a peaceful resolution (of the conflicts) in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. South Africa's peaceful transition from apartheid to a constitutional democracy is evidence of the ANC's belief in the power of deliberation. There can therefore be no justification for the use of violence to resolve global challenges that we daily face, whether social, political or economic.”
South African President Jacob Zuma has refrained from commenting on the killing of bin Laden, saying he had not received an official report on the dramatic killing of the most wanted man on the planet and, as a result, was not prepared to comment “at this stage”.
Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki:
“"I commend all those people behind the successful tracking down and killing of Osama bin Laden. His killing is an act of justice to those Kenyans who lost their lives and the many more who suffered injuries.”
Douglas Sidialo, victim of the 1998 attack on the US embassy in Nairobi:
“Bin Laden's death is a huge relief. This is justice from the maker (God). However, I would rather he had been captured and confessed to his evil deeds. I fear that this might trigger renewed recruitment amongst those who viewed bin Laden as a martyr."
Al Jazeera report on the US embassy blast victims, ten years on:
Some Somali women's groups thanked the US for killing Bin Laden, saying he was responsible for the deaths of thousands of women and children in the country, especially in the capital Mogadishu.
Nigerian’s Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olusola Amore:
“We have not only strengthened security at the US Embassy, all the Commissioners of Police, especially in the northern part of the country, have been asked to be on the red alert to be able to put down the backlash. Although we are not expecting that Nigerians would react to it because it is a thing that does not concern the country.”
As the news of Bin Laden’s death spread, there was a stampede in the city of Kano when residents in flash points where non-indigenes had suffered big losses in the past hurried out of the areas. Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian reelected in April, has not yet reacted.
Mali's Foreign Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga:
"We welcome Bin Laden’s death, but have to be careful - particularly in the next three to six months we have to be extremely vigilant - because we know that every time al-Qaeda suffers a blow like this, it's followed by attempts at revenge.”
An anonymous Sudanese businessman, living near Bin Laden’s former home in Sudan: "I absolutely don't agree with the 9/11 attack. That was wrong. But other parts of what he said were good. He spoke good things, about the rights of Palestinians or what the Americans did in the Middle East and Afghanistan.”
Sources include Reuters, AFP, BBC, Al Jazeera and allAfrica
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
I cannot believe that people today (like my government) would refuse to comment on the death of OBL until they see the eveidence.Does it make sense that the President of the USA would make a public anouncement to confirm that,but the South African government wants to see the veidence first.Must Pres Obama bring the DNA over here first?
And what will it take them (otherwise) to be convinced of it?
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.