Tom Mosoba, a weekend editor at The Citizen in Dar es Salaam, says the muted reaction to the Ghailani verdict in Tanzania is due to disappointment and religious circumspection. He writes:
Nov 23
Muted in Tanzania
Africa, Christianity, Islam, Religion, Tanzania, terrorist organizations
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Nov 22
The reaction to the Ghailani verdict in Kenya and Tanzania is remarkable: there is none.
In Kenya, the Nation ran one BBC story on the conviction of the Tanzanian man for his role in the bombings that killed more than 200 people–and nothing since. None of the editorialists in the Daily Times or The Citizen in Dar es Salaam have written on Ghailani’s conviction. None of the sub-Sahran bloggers at Global Voices have commented.
I have not done a more comprehensive search but it seems safe to say that justice for Ghailani matters more to Americans who were not attacked by him than to Africans who were.
A couple of tentative guesses about why:
Nov 21
Africa on Ghailani: Give me a minute
Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania
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While the American blogosphere gears up for righteous combat over the conviction of Ahmed Ghailani on one count of terrorism, it might be worth noting that public commenters of Kenya and Tanzania are not much interested. Check out the independent Nation, the business-minded East African, and the tabloid Standard in Kenya, or the Arusha Times in Tanzania. They have not taken up the news out of New York.
It is as if journalists in these countries, already subject to al-Qaeda attack in 1998, do not see themselves as a long-sufferings victims of Ghailani or an imminent target of al-Qaeda today. I could be wrong. Maybe they do not live in our 24/7/60/60 world.
But why pause for reflection when we can enjoy the recriminations (#Ghailani) of symbolic analysts on the eastern seaboard of North America?
Nov 20
In Washington, the conviction of the accused terrorist feels like a defeat for the Obama administration, says Washington Post.
In Tanzania, where the August 7, 1998 blast killed 11 people and wounded 85, the story plays as Ahmed Ghailani was “cleared.”
In fact, he spends the rest of his life incarcerated. But will the popularly understood story in Africa be: American justice clears al-Qaeda?
Nov 19
Palin in 2016 (and South Africa)
Africa, Americas, South Africa, United States
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Sarah Palin will wait until 2016 to run for president. So says David Yepsen, the dean of Iowa’s College of Presidential Politics. A master of understatement, Yepsen says the former governor turned reality-show star needs to work on “the gravitas thing.”
For the “It can’t happen here” crowd: A South African comedian reflects on Sarah Palin and why there is no such thing as a Jacob Zuma joke.
Mar 01
Fidel has democratic buddies
Africa
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The not quite hale former Cuban president laughs it up with jolly Lula in Havana.
The death of a Cuban dissident last week will not prevent democratic countries from conducting normal business with the island, any more than China’s worse human rights record prevents the U.S. from doing normal business with Beijing.
While the Cuban economic system doesn’t work very well, the Cuban social safety net and independence from Washington are admired in countries whose leaders know poverty and Washington bullying better than your average U.S. pundit. In South Africa some people want to name a street after Fidel but the locals are objecting.
The Brazilian prez looks red here, but he’s no communist. Analysis: Fidel can still drink his fellow statesmen under the table.
Feb 12
World biggest failed state?
Africa, Nigeria, terrorist organizations
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An Al Qaeda spin off has offered to train Muslims to fight perceived enemies here, says a leading local news site.
Nowhere doss Osama bin Laden enjoy more confidence than here.
Al Jazeera asks the growing question about Nigeria.
Al Jazeera asks the question.
Don’t forget the Pew poll finding I cited the other day that the only geopolitical entity (outside of the Palestinian territories) where Osama bin Laden is fairly popular is…..
Feb 06
Genocide charges in Sudan
Africa, Sudan, War crimes
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WOS on what they’re saying about the ICC indictment in the African media.
Feb 04
FARC + Al Qaeda= FARQaeda
Africa, Americas, Colombia, Northern Tier, Venezuela
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Real Documented Threat or Circumstantial Specter? asks theCouncil on Hemispheric Affairs.
The pairing now known as FARQaeda would represent a disturbing alliance because of the unexamined but equally important backflow, or two-way flow, in this illegal embrace of smuggling junctions.
But how real is the threat? wonders COHA’s Leah Chavla.
no convincing evidence has demonstrated that all or even some of the African drug trafficking agents involved in this lucrative ring are actually members or affiliates of any terrorist organization.
That’s not how the transnational drug traffickers work (for the most part).
Non-simplistic discussion on the jump.
Jan 12
What are they saying about polygamy…
Africa, South Africa
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Now that South African president Jacob Zuma has taken a third wife (or is she his fifth?), some say “Fine by me.”
Kenya is contemplating a new law to legalize polygamy. Most South Africans are opposed, one poll shows.
