Die departement van Binnelandse Sake sê hulle is besig met ‘n deeglike ondersoek en sal met Keniaanse owerhede saamwerk om te bepaal of ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse paspoort wat verbind word met die aanval op ‘n winkelsentrum in Nairobi, vervals was of nie.
‘n Britse vrou wat die “’wit weduwee” genoem word, word ondersoek nadat ‘n Keniaanse minister gesê het sy was een van die militante wat ministens 62 mense in ‘n winkelsentrum in Nairobi doodgeskiet het. Keniaanse owerhede het egter teenstrydige verklarings uitgereik oor haar beweerde betrokkenheid.
Die vrou, Samantha (Sam) Lewthwaite, gebruik blykbaar die Suid-Afrikaanse paspoort as een van verskeie aliasse waaronder sy reis. Sy is die dogter van ‘n Britse soldaat.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse paspoort, wat gister in verskeie Britse koerante gepubliseer is en waarvan daar op die internet verskeie foto’s is, is in die naam van Natalie Faye Webb. Die aantyging oor haar beweerde Suid-Afrikaanse paspoort is deur ‘n pro-Israeli-webwerf gemaak.
Haar dogter en twee seuns is saam met haar. Die kinders behoort tussen die ouderdomme sewe en 12 te wees.
‘n Woordvoerder van Binnelandse Sake, Ronnie Mamoepa sê die regering is nog nie amptelik deur Keniaanse amptenare genader nie. – Sapa/AFP
Hier loop duisende van hulle in die land rond. Al-Qaeda-opleiding in Suid-Afrika word dan ook hier gedoen met die regering se medewete en toestemming. Vervalsing van paspoorte is aan die orde van die dag teen goedkoop pryse. Ons grense staan oop vir enige volksvreemde, of terroris om die land in of uit te gaan soos hulle verkies.
Is Pretoria volgende op die lys soos berig word? Is die regering opgewasse teen sulke aanslae? Wat word gedoen om gevalle van terreur in die land te verhoed?
Dit is een van die redes waarom SA se visums nie vertrou word nie!
Is daar iets in Suid Afrika wat nog vertrou kan word?
Lyk vir my na ‘n uil op ‘n kluit. Laat haar betrek by hierdie internasionale intriges wat sy nie kop of stert van uitmaak nie. Stel jou voor: In ons eie land, tussen jou eie mense, is dit ‘n waagspel van die hoogste orde om jou by enige versetgroep aan te sluit, jy mag net “geBoeremag” word, ja, dis so gelaai van die risiko’s ek sal my nie eens met die sogenaamde Rooi Oktober-veldtog bemoei nie. Dan openbaar hierdie vrou nog die domastrantheid om in ‘n intrige waarby ‘n Moslem-aktivistegroep betrokke is, te speel. Die CIA en die Britse inligtingsdienste sal haar soos ‘n ou blikkitaar speel.
Hou kop, mense. Moet julle nie by opstand-agendas laat betrek nie. Kyk ook wie dryf die agendas. Weerstandsagendas is wel minder skouspelagtig en diie pad langer. Maar deurdat die pad so lank is kan jy jou “prinsipaal” wat die pad loop se motiewe toets en na sy sy more- en aandpraatjies kyk. Enige suggestie wat jou betrek by dinge buite die wet, moet jou al klaar klienkoppie laat trek. Wees geduldig.
Ag nee man Jas, ek is ‘n vurige ondersteuner van die Red October aksie 😉
Ek sal dit so stel: Ek het baie tyd vir Sunette Bridges, sy is kookwater. Maar ‘n veldtog wat Red October genoem word? In die politiek was rooi nog nooit my gunstelingkleur nie, of dit nou ‘n Engelse Rooibaadjie is (Eerste Vryheidsoorlog), of Kremlinrooi. As AfriForum boonop êrens in die prentjie verskyn, dan hou ek verby. Dalk gaan Red October vir jou waardevolle politieke oefening wees, jy sal nooit weet nie. Al wat ek weet is Red October is nie my beurt nie.
Jas my liewe vriend, dis omdat die aksie INTERNASIONAAL geloods word. Jy gesien hoeveel lande, om nie te praat van dorpe regoor ons land gaan deelneem ?
En die naam is toevallig gekies?
Gas, ek praat onder korreksie … sal dit persoonlik met Sunette opneem. Soos ek verstaan het Zuma (ek meen dis hy) self ‘n hele aantal jare terug so aksie geloods met dieselfde naam.
Spesiaal vir jou Jas-vriend 😉
Lank lewe die Boer!
Hoendervleis mooi – lees dit asseblief !
Die Boer se Kreet
Ek eer die nagedatenis van my voorsate, want is hulle opoffering, insig en stryd wat my hierdie land op ʼn eerlike en eerbare wyse besorg het. Daar is niks in my Volk se geskiedenis waarvoor ek skaam of skuldig hoef te voel nie. Alhoewel die gees van die Voortrekkers en die Bittereinders in my voortleef, leef ek nie in die verlede nie, maar reik ek na die toekoms.
Ek gun aan elke Volk ʼn eie land, waar hy onder sy eie regering en volgens sy eie tradisies en gebruike onbeskaamd sy Volkskap kan uitleef. Terselfdertyd eis ek hierdie reg vir my eie Volk en nageslag en is ek nie bereid om in my land die geringste van my volksidentiteit af te staan om volksvreemdes te behaag nie.
Soos wat my voorouers gedoen het, sal ek ook goeie buurskap met alle buurlande nastreef, maar ek glo dat vriendskap nie met geskenke gekoop kan word nie en sal ek enige daad van vyandigheid met ferm en doelgerigte optrede begroet.
My Volk se bates is duur gekoop en ek sal dit met niemand buite my Volk deel nie. My voorouers het nie gestry, gely en gesterf sodat my land as welsynstaat vir volksvreemdes of skep plek vir gierige internasionaliste kan dien nie.
Die gasvryheid en vreedsaamheid wat ʼn kenmerk van my Volk is, sal ek voortsit, maar ek is nie ʼn saadbedding vir vreemde kulture of gebruike nie. Ek respekteer die vryheid en kultuur van elke Volk, maar verwag om dieselfde erkennings te geniet wat enige andere gun. Ek vra nie vir myself meer regte as wat enige ander volk op aarde geniet nie.
Soos wat my voorvaders bereid was om te veg en te sterf om vir my ʼn vrye land te land te skep, is ek bereid om enige offer te bring om dieselfde aan my nageslag agter te laat. As daar mense is wat in hul verlede dinge gedoen het wat hulle nou noop om te glo dat hulle ander volke iets skuld, moet hul self daardie skuld betaal. Ek sal alles in my vermoeë doen om te verhoed dat hulle, hulle skuld net die Boerevolk se vryheid, suiwerheid, bestaansreg en grond betaal.
In my eie land kom my eie Volk se belange eerste. Ek is ʼn vry mens in my eie, vry land en ek buig die knie voor God alleen.
(Skrywer tans onbekend)
Die skrywer hiervan is Barend Paul Kruger.
Dankie Johan !
Ek is nou so hoendervleis ek dink ek gaan in ‘n kastrol beland!
Jy’s veilig, jy sal nie in my pot beland nie – hehehe !
Is hulle op Beau Brummel se plaas afgeneem?
Ek dink in elk geval daai tweetjies hoort nie die vrede te vertrou nie, hulle gaan vroeër of later in die warm water beland.
Nou’t ek lekker gelag – dankie vir jou sin vir humor !
Lykie of hulle van sy plaas afkomstig is nie, gits, jy kan mos sien daar is geen velle wat hang nie, inteendeel, die haan se kam staan mooi orent 😉
En hy het ‘n vonkel in die oog! Van ‘n huppel in sy stappie sal ek ongelukkig nie kan sê nie, die hen het wel ‘n stappie.
Jy meen sy het ‘n huppel in haar trippel … noem haar sommer net Trippie.
Lekker slaap jy, en almal hier teenwoordig.
Jas is jy teen plaas moorde?
Jas ondersteun jy dan ‘n kleur en nie ‘n saak nie? Dit is bloed ROOI vir die Blanke in hierdie land. Seg my is jy vir of teen die moord op Blanke en Blank boere?
Cosatu het ‘n jaar of twee gelede ook ‘n Rooi Oktober-veldtog gehad. Ek onthou ‘n joernalis wat nog vir PW se inligtingsdienste gewerk het sê: As jy by ‘n ou kom en jy sien daar is vuil skottelgoed in die wasbak, dan weet jy tien teen een is sy bed ook nie opgemaak nie. Ek probeer maar net konsekwent wees en vra my self af waarom sê twee skynbaar uiteenlopende instansies dieselfde sjibbolet. Jy vra of ek vir of teen die volksmoord is omdat ek nie van ‘n Rooi Oktober-oproep hou nie. Dis nie ‘n billike vraag nie, Seg net, oordink weer jou vraeboog en stel nuut en billik geformuleerde vrae, ek sal dit graag antwoord, moet net nie dat die twee sake wat op die aarde niks met mekaar te doen het, mekaar kontamineer nie.
Ek dink AfriForum se sogenaamde “plaasmoorde” is so laag en gemeen, ek noem dit by sy regte naam – volksmoord. Die laaste ding wat ek sal wil sien is as ‘n mens by ‘n protes oor die Afrikanervolksmoord met ‘n plakkaat kom waarop staan dis ‘n volksmoord, dat die man met dié plakkaat by die protes verbied word deur Solidariteit en AfriForum. Vra maar vir die organiseerders van die Rooi Oktober-veldtog of die protesteerders maar volksmoordplakkate kan dra op die dag van protes en of hier maar weer sagkens na “plaasmoorde” verwys sal word.
Moet nie dat jou voorkeur vir Rooi Oktober van my wat nie daarvan hou nie, ‘n vyand maak nie. Rooi Oktober is jou keuse. Ek glo weer ek het ‘n sterk genoeg saak om nie daarby betrokke te wees nie.
Jas Ek respekteer jou besluit om nie daaraan deel te neem nie. Ekke persoon het ‘n keuse en dit is sy reg,
My vraag is ondersteun jy plaas plaasmoord?
Sien bo, Seg Net.
Ek respekteer jou besluit om daaraan deel te neem, dis ook jou keuse en jou reg.
Jas los rooi Oktober uit die prentjie. Ondersteun jy plaas moord
Die enigste wese wat ‘n plaas kan “vermoor” is ‘n opkomende Swart boer, Seg Net. As jy die afgryslike vraag of ek moorde op boere steun durf vra, dan is my antwoord is jy siek.
jas heet jy Afriforum se petisie teen plaasmoorde ononderteken wat aan die VN oorhandig gaan word?
Al waartoe hierdie knaende vrae lei is dat ek op ‘n forum waar ek gasvryheid geniet, dinge skryf wat tot ‘n bitter gees jeens my deur forumgebruikers wat wel AfriForum steun, aanleiding gee. Van die VN dink ek minder as bokkerol, waarom sal ek my skuldig maak aan ‘n vrugtelose oefening waarin ‘n petisie onderteken word wat in elk geval in legger nommer 13 gaan beland. Ek is nie laf nie.
Jan seg my steun jy die petisie teen die kwota stelsel in rugby?
Jy is regtig klipdom, maar verbete dat mense dit moet agterkom
Gas jy is grond dom my vriend. Ook een van daardie JA stemmers wat nou hulle bekke groot maak en almal en alles wat iemand vir die Afrikaners probeer doen veroordeel. Sit op die kantlyn of draad en kyk waar hy kritiek kan lewer op ander se kommentaar. Om op die berig kommentaar te lewer? Nie daardie intelligensie nie. Bietjie verstandelik gestremd sou ek seg.
Jan jy antwoord nie my vraag nie. Ek geniet dieselfde gasvryheid as jy my vriend. Ek verskil van jou soos jy van my verskil. Skree moord indien boere vermoor word, maar weier volstrek om ‘n petisie teen die Boere te teken omrede dit deur ‘n organisasie is waarmee jy nie saamstem nie. Mens is vir of teen die moord op Boere my vriend en daar is nie ‘n goue middelweg nie. Indien die petisie deur die ANC, DP, EFF of deur wie ook al gehou was het ek dit nog steeds geteken en ondersteun. Dit is nie die organisasie wat jy ondersteun nie maar die petisie.
Selfde met Red October. Jy is vir waarvoor hulle staan of daarteen. Vir Afrikaans en die Afrikaner se regte of daarteen.
https://m.facebook.com/…/729284590420624/…
Why ‘Red October’?
Why ‘Red October’?
19 September 2013 om 11:10 VM
As with all things in life, there will always be those that will look for reasons to object to or distance themselves from an event that calls for action and ‘Red October’ has had it’s fair share of objectors…
This note is to clear up any misconceptions regarding the reasons for choosing ‘Red October’ as the name for our call to protest action.
I have lost count of the number of people that have objected to the use of this, so called, ‘communist title’, for our Protest Action.
The October Revolution, commonly referred to as Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a seizure of state power.
A nationwide crisis had developed in Russia affecting social, economic, and political relations. Disorder in industry and transport had intensified, and difficulties in obtaining provisions had increased. Gross industrial productionin 1917 had decreased by over 36 percent from what it had been in 1916. In the autumn, as much as 50 percent of all enterprises and other industrial centres were closed down, leading to mass unemployment. At the same time, the cost of living increased sharply. The real wages of the workers fell by about 50 percent from what it had been in 1913. Russia’s national debt in October 1917 had risen to 50 billion rubles. Of this, debts to foreign governments constituted more than 11 billion rubles. The country faced the threat of financial bankruptcy.
By October 1917 there had been over four thousand peasant uprisings against landowners. When the Provisional Governmentsent out punitive detachments it only enraged the peasants. The garrisons in Petrograd, Moscow, and other cities, the Northern and Western fronts, and the sailors of the Baltic Fleet in September openly declared through their elected representative body, Tsentrobalt, that they did not recognize the authority of the Provisional Government and would not carry out any of its commands.
Sound familiar?
Now, this is NOT Russia and we are NOT a bunch of communists but we are facing all of these difficulties, and more, at the moment and RED OCTOBER, in essence, is about revolt! …about rising up against what is wrong and about taking a stand.
The ANC and the SACP have both used the name ‘Red October’ to brand some of their campaigns. Campaigns that completely excluded white South Africans in its motives and outcome.
What better than to highjack the terminology of our enemies and use their weapons against them? What better than to create an event so big that all future references to this term will point to the uprising and revolt of an Ethnic Minority that could no longer tolerate an incompetent government! What better than to flood the internet with references to RED OCTOBER where searches from all over the world of this well known term, will be directed to OUR Red October?
Furthermore, in the Urban Dictionary, the term ‘Red October’ has the following meaning:
1. Something really big
2. Something (a person, animal, object, or anything) that is abnormally larger or bigger in size compared to the things around it.
3. Something that is just pretty damn huge.
In the words of a friend: “I think we have some pluck using the a communist revolution against the communists to let the world know about the wrongs we are suffering!”
The colour, Red, has many different connotations and in our case, would in no uncertain terms, refer to the bloodshed we are currently experiencing! It is also the colour of anger, protest and revolt!
And last but by no means least, the 10th of October used to be a public holiday of some significance for South Africans. It was the Birthday of Paul Kruger, well known for being the face of revolt against British rule. He never accepted that one nation should rule over another. He rebelled against oppression and fought for freedom.
I can think of no better way to celebrate the his birthday, his life and his legacy than to stand up against the oppression, torture and the death of our people and fight for survival, freedom and righteousness.
Happy Birthday Oom Paul! I hope you will be proud of us!
Other significant events on 10 October:
1926 – SA War Memorial is opened at Delville Wood. The Memorial was unveiled by mrs Annie Botha, the widow of General Louis Botha, after an address by the then Prime Minister, Gen J.B.M. Hertzog in commemoration of the thousands of South Africans who fought during the First World War.
1992 – The Pan Africanist Congress’s military wing, the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA) burnt down the farm house of Edmund Middleton of Fouriesburg on 10 October 1992. The attack was part of an APLA military exercise known as ‘Operation Great Storm’. Its aim was to reclaim land from White people. This action can be seen as the start of what we are being threatened with today.
Jas Stegman dit is nie die naam nie, dit gaan oor die rede waarvoor die optog sal wees – hier is die volledige redes in Engels ongelukkig.
On 10 October 2013 the people of South Africa will stage marches and gatherings across South Africa and the World to let everyone know that we have had ENOUGH!
No longer will we be silent about the oppression of the White South African Ethnic Minority! No longer will we silently endure the killing of our people on our farms and in our towns and cities!
We can no longer tolerate the destruction of our infrastructure, our filthy government hospitals, our pathetic educational system, dirty dams and rivers, uninhabitable parks and public areas, dangerous neighborhoods and filthy streets and a disintegrating road network! The list is endless and we say it’s ENOUGH!
We can no longer be silent about the brutal torture of the elderly and defenseless, the mothers, fathers and children of this minority group.
We are tired of corrupt governance, racist Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment and Affirmative Action, not only excluding white South Africans from the job market but also making it impossible for businesses and companies to make contributions to the thousands of white people living in squatter camps or our children in orphanages.
We, as an Ethnic Minority, are also entitled to the protection of our rights as enshrined in our Constitution.
• We have the right to be in charge of our own schools and to maintain the standard of Education that we are accustomed to in accordance with our culture.
• We have the right to demand that the current government provides us with a safe environment in which to raise our children.
• We have the right to feel safe in our homes and communities and it is the responsibility of this government to provide us with the protection we deserve.
• Our children have the right to receive tertiary education for
whatever career they choose to pursue and to not be excluded from entry to our universities through Racist policies.
• This government has a responsibility to safeguard our borders and stop the influx of illegal immigrants that are not only depleting our tax resources, but are responsible for a large percentage of the crimes committed against the citizens of this country.
• The Constitution also guarantees the right of a South African citizen to an expedient trial, protection against torture and inhumane treatment during incarceration and the premise that one is innocent until proven guilty. This does not seem to apply to our people.
• The Constitution provides for the right to Self-determination for any group should they choose it. Several efforts to engage in talks regarding this, are being ignored by the current government.
• We will not apologise for owning farmland and view the current land reform debate as a populist tactic causing harm to legitimate citizens.
Farmers are being murdered on an unprecedented scale and government should be held accountable.
These rights pertain to that of all minority groups and they will be joining us in a show of solidarity against the failure of the current regime to protect its citizens and provide them with a free, fair and safe country to live and prosper in.
People all over the World will release RED Balloons into the skies in protest against the inhumane Slaughter and Oppression of the White Ethnic Minority of South Africa, on October 10,2013!
This needs to stop. We will no longer be ignored!
Gelukkig is daar heelwat mense wat hulle nie laat afsit met allerlei verskonings om hierdie poging te ondersteun nie.
Hou jou besig met die positiewe dinge en laat die negatiewes hulself vermaak..
Die CIA en die Britse inligtingsdienste sal haar soos ‘n ou blikkitaar speel. Sy weet ook presies waarmee sy besig is of was. Wat gaan hulle of kan hulle doen? Al sing sy soos ‘n kanarie, niks en niemand gaan hulle stop nie. Hulle het hulle doel bereik
Hierdie groepe het die wêreld wyd in elke land ingesypel en wag geduldig om toe te slaan. Hulle ” adverteer” nie hulle bestaan nie en slaan toe waar niemand dit verwag nie. Waarom het jou CIA en intelligensie dienste nie hierdie en ander terreur aanvalle gekeer of verhoed nie?
Maar spekulasie van my kant af. Sy kan selfs as ‘n belhamel (patsy) gebruik word. Die gedagte wat ek wil tuisbring is, dis sy teen die wye, onsimpatieke mensdom, sy daardie “mensdom” nou die CIA of watter inligtingsdiens ook al. Hierdie spioenasiedienste is ‘n siniese klomp, eintlik een groot familie en selfs daartoe in staat om oor en weer te skinder of te spog oor wie hulle nou weer aan die hoek het.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Kenya-denies-IMF-access-to-secret-mining-agreements/-/539546/1922406/-/item/0/-/e3adksz/-/index.html
’n berig van die nuusdiens AFP het die mans nie die plaaslike Swahili nie, maar Arabies soos in die naburige Somalië, waar Keniaanse soldate ontplooi is om Al-Sjabaab te beveg, gepraat
Jy moet dalk beter bronne kry. Daardie Mall se naam is die Jew Mall en die mense wat se lewens gespaar is was almal Israeli want besoekers kom van daar af. Die Moslem belydenis storie is ‘n klomp nonsens. Dit was net Christene waaronder ‘n Kanadese diplomaat wat geskiet is
Luidens AFP het die mans Arabies gepraat soos in die naburige Somalië waar Keniaanse soldate ontplooien is om Al-Shabaab te beveg. Waar is SA se soldate nou weer ontplooi?
Dunno, but should’nt you be fighting apartheid? http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2013/09/jewish-communities-planning-annex-parts-north-london/
Nhaa, not apartheid, security measures. They can predict the future based on the current situation, thus taking precautionary steps. Keeping undesirables out of an area normally stops crime altogether. You should try it in your country.
Is Britain ‘their’ country? That’s new
Het is na vele terroristische wraakacties vanuit de moslimwereld, anders dan München ’72, wel opvallend dat christenen het slachtoffer zijn. Dit terwijl de woorden van vooraanstaande (geestelijk/politieke) leiders veelal Israel of Joden hekelen en als vijand duiden.
Voorts is er voor 2 weken een britse ex kolonel in Kenya tijdens een inbraak vermoord. Dit was zoals werd vermeld in de Times het hoofd van de ‘Bloody Sunday para’s’.
When Kenya sent thousands of soldiers across the border to hunt down Al-Shabaab in Somalia, the Islamist militant group warned they would get their revenge. On Saturday, and through the weekend, the nightmares promised by Al-Shabaab became a bloody, body-strewn reality. SIMON ALLISON explains how Somalia’s messy civil war spilled out of its borders, and wonders if Kenya’s politicians will ask themselves the hard questions, or revert to the bombast that got them involved in the first place.
It’s easy to forget, wandering through Nairobi, that this is a nation at war. There are a few clues – the mirror checks for car bombs, the metal detectors in supermarkets and public buildings, the odd grenade outside a nightclub – but the battlefield is far away and the fighting sporadic. In this year’s presidential election, the war wasn’t even a campaign issue, with candidates preferring instead to bicker about parliamentarians’ salaries and the International Criminal Court.
There’s no forgetting now.
With 68 people dead in the fancy Westgate shopping mall, at least 175 others nursing bullet injuries and an unknown number being held hostage somewhere in the building, the war has arrived in Nairobi in the most tragic possible way.
Kenya can’t say it wasn’t warned. Ever since October 2011, when 4,000-odd Kenyan troops were summarily dispatched across to the border into Somalia with a mandate to hunt down and destroy Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group has been promising a massive, bloody revenge. Although it was always tempting to dismiss Al-Shabaab’s hyperbole as empty, Comical Ali-style bluster, the group has form when it comes to revenge.
Remember it is only three years since the last major terrorist attack in Africa, when 76 died in twin bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala as they watched the World Cup final. This was in direct response to Uganda’s military intervention in Somalia, involving thousands of Ugandan soldiers operating under the aegis of the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Of course, being warned is not the same as being able to prevent these kinds of attacks. Nairobi’s gunmen were clearly inspired by the Mumbai 2008 attacks, which analysts said at the time could be the template for terrorism of the future. Easier and cheaper than bombs, requiring just a handful of machine guns, plenty of ammo and a few men (and, in Nairobi, at least one woman) willing to die for their cause. And without going on full, permanent lockdown, what can cities do to prevent such an attack?
Still, in the light of this weekend’s tragic scenes, it is worth revisiting Kenya’s sudden decision to get itself involved in Somalia. Unlike Uganda’s internationally approved military support for Somalia’s fragile central government (along with troops from Burundi, and more recently Djibouti and Sierra Leone), Kenya’s was a unilateral intervention that took everyone by surprise. And their goal was less about restoring stability in Somalia and more about wiping out Al-Shabaab and establishing a de facto buffer state between the two countries, a buffer state it hoped would keep Somalia’s instability from spilling over its borders and threatening Kenya’s vital tourism and shipping industries.
Before Kenya went to war that is exactly what had been happening. In the absence of any effective government, piracy in Somalia flourished, as did kidnappings for ransom. As pickings grew slim in Somalia itself, the pirates, kidnappers and militant groups trying to fund their operations looked further afield, with Kenyan tourist resorts – flush with wealthy western tourists – identified as perfect targets. Two foreigners were taken from two different coastal resort towns, while another two foreign aid workers were abducted from a refugee camp near the Somali border. The future for Mombasa port was also looking grim, with shipping companies looking for alternative destinations that would take them out of pirate range. Along with the flood of Somali refugees into Kenya, this was all too much for the country’s unpopular government of national unity (who would also have welcomed the distraction from their own governance record and the popular approval boost that so often accompanies major military action).
And so Kenyan troops were sent in to one of Africa’s most intractable conflicts. Al-Shabaab, then in control of most of Somalia (and alleged to have participated in some of the Kenyan kidnappings) was the obvious target.
Kenya’s involvement was welcomed cautiously by the African and international diplomatic community, and has fundamentally altered the balance of power in Somalia. Whereas Amisom’s approach was essentially defensive, Kenya went straight on the attack and ousted Al-Shabaab from most of its important strongholds, including its de facto capital in the port city of Kismayo. It allowed the federal government in Mogadishu to extend its reach and gave Amisom the encouragement it needed to secure Mogadishu properly, which explains the mini renaissance some say the city is currently enjoying (including hip restaurants, ice cream shops and TEDx talks).
The pressure has hit Al-Shabaab hard. Divisions in the group deteriorated into infighting, with several prominent defections. It has lost plenty of territory it once controlled, although it still remains in charge of vast swathes of the country. This pressure, ironically, may explain the timing and the spectacular nature of the Nairobi attack this weekend. In the face of fading influence, it is fighting to stay relevant and remain in the headlines.
Subsequent to the unilateral invasion, Kenyan troops were folded into Amisom and given a seal of international approval. Yet this retrospective legitimisation could not disguise that their intervention was in fact an invasion, and that the risk of blowback was always going to be high, especially when it became clear that Kenya’s involvement was seriously hurting Al-Shabaab.
On that front, Al-Shabaab have delivered. Kenya’s leaders now have some serious, difficult questions to ask themselves. Why is Kenya in Somalia? Is it worth staying? How likely are repeat attacks? Crucially, with President Uhuru Kenyatta already promising to “punish” those responsible, they need to ask whether sending even more troops in Somalia, with an even more aggressive mandate, is the best way to protect Kenyan citizens in the long run.
Also important for everyone to remember is that Al-Shabaab’s actions do not define Somalia, or Somalis (after all, Al-Shabaab’s primary target has always been Somalis themselves). Kenya has a sizeable Somali population and an entire suburb (Eastleigh) that is known as the Somali district. This has previously been the site of xenophobic violence, with Kenyans targeting Somalis in response to other attacks attributed to Al-Shabaab. Kenya’s leaders have a duty to remind their citizens that this is not acceptable.
There is also a worry that this tragedy will be used as a bargaining chip in the trials of Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, at the International Criminal Court. Already Ruto has requested that the court delay his trial so that he can deal with the aftermath of the massacre and there are rumours that Kenyatta wants to use it to bolster his argument that he is unable to attend his trial in person.
In the middle of this ongoing tragedy, Kenya needs good leadership more than ever. This is Kenyatta and Ruto’s chance to show they can provide it, even if they haven’t in the past. They owe the Westgate victims at least that much. DM
NEE! ek glo dit nie. NIE NSA nie, ons sal nie so iets, soos om n paspoort te vervals, doen nie.
Hierdie is net propoganda teen ons reenboog nasie en grens aan rassisme.!!