Real Attention Should Be Given To Terrorism In Africa

The world seems to have double standard in dealing with many things, and there is no exception even when it comes to the issue of terrorism. Attacks in a Western metropolis always draw worldwide attention while those in Africa appear to have only limited repercussions.

Following the terrorist attacks in France last week which claimed 17 lives, there was an unprecedented outpouring of grief and empathy from all corners of the world.

Roughly at the same time, Nigeria lost an estimated 2,000 lives in Boko Haram’s terrorist attack, but the news merely got a passing mention in major networks.

Similar contrast could also be seen in December last year, when a cafeteria siege by a gunman in Sidney elicited global attention, while a massacre of over 60 people in northern Kenya by the Al-Shabaab was buried to oblivion very fast.

This double standard has irked many across the globe who have expressed their shock at media’s “callous indifference” to terrorist attacks in Africa, which has more terror hot spots, such as Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, Kenya and Niger, than any other continent.

Africa-based security think tanks have consistently warned against growing terror threats on the continent due to the embrace of radical ideologies by jobless youths, weak policing and the lack of anti-terrorism resources.

The Global Terrorism Index 2014 indicated that Africa had experienced a spike in terrorism since 2011, identifying Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and al-Qaida in the Maghreb as the most vicious terror networks on the continent which claimed thousands of lives across Sub-Saharan Africa in the last two years.

In northern Nigerian cities and villages, witnesses have given chilling accounts of walking over dead bodies after Boko Haram slaughtered them, while Kenya has lost 500 civilians and 300 security officers since 2010 when its troops tried to root out Al-Shabaab militants from their bases in Somalia.

“Other parts of the world receive undivided attention whenever terror comes knocking, but it has been different in our case. We are hit with travel advisories when terrorism hits this region and empathy is not guaranteed,” said Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohammed .

The world needs to stress that every life is precious regardless of their socioeconomic status, color or belief and terrorism is the common enemy of the whole mankind.

“We must understand that fighting terror is a noble obligation for everyone regardless of religion and race. The Paris march was an epoch moment and should be replicated here in Africa,” said Anita Kiamba, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s School of Diplomacy.

Meanwhile, it is important to realize that terrorism in Africa is not a local security challenge, as it poses mortal threats to global peace, security and development.

To prevent a potential spillover of the scourge, the international community needs to give real attention, show genuine commitment and provide substantive help to the fight against terrorism in Africa, where countries are grappling with fragile security architecture, conflicts, poverty and youth unemployment.