Blog 3: Attack on Kenya Mall and the U.S.

On September 21, 2013, Shabab militants, a Islamist militant group based in Somalia targeted Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya; leaving thirty-nine people dead and over one-hundred and fifty people wounded. New York times reports it as "one of the most chilling terrorist attacks in East Africa since Al Queda blew up two American embassies in 1998. Witnesses stated that the gunmen were armed with AK-47 rifles and also holding innocent people as hostages.The United States is currently deploying F.B.I. agents to the country to investigate how the attack was so successfully executed and the "hierarchy, structure and planning of the group. The United States is concerned that this attack is only the beginning and the group will eventually target the United States. Taking a look back into history, a similar attack occurred with the Al Qaeda group attacking embassy groups in far countries and later embassy groups in the United States.

This massacre that occurred in Kenya relates to the idea of genocide. Genocide is defined as the deliberate destruction of a racial, political or cultural group. It is clear that genocide was a factor in this attack because witnesses reported that the gunmen shouted for "all Muslims to get out of the way." The target for the gunmen were people who were not of the Muslim faith. Therefore, the reason for the attack must be linked to other underlying issues. The crime in Africa is common between religious groups but this has been the most detrimental of them all.

9/27/2013
11:55am