Attacks shock Africans

ADDIS ABABA – Africans shared in the world’s shock and grief on Friday at the bomb attacks on London and expressed anger that the attacks could have diverted the attention of the rich West from their own continent’s plight.

Africa’s battle with poverty was at the head of the agenda at the G8 summit of industrialised countries in Scotland and international public support for debt relief and greater AID had been underlined by the Live 8 concerts. Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair said the Group of Eight leaders agreed to boost development aid to Africa by 50 billion dollars, step up debt relief, re-examine trade laws and extend AIDS treatment (see report on page 14).This will have come as a relief to African leaders, who had feared that once Thursday’s bloody multiple attacks had knocked Africa off the world’s front pages the poorest continent might once again have missed its chance.”These barbaric acts were calculated to wreak havoc in an indiscriminate manner on civilians and probably create problems for the successful outcome of the G8 summit,” said Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.”We vehemently condemn such barbaric acts for which there can be no justification whatsoever,” he added, in one of many letters from African leaders to both Blair and Britain’s head of state, Queen Elizabeth II.Many Africans noted with bitter irony how the blasts had targeted Britain just as Blair was taking the lead in persuading his fellow G8 leaders to focus themselves on helping Africa escape from mounting poverty and disease.President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, who was in London for a business summit tied to the G8 meeting at the time of the blasts, expressed his country’s solidarity with Britain in a letter to the prime minister.”This is indeed unfortunate at this time when you are doing so much to bring the world together,” wrote Obasanjo.Ghana’s President John Kufuor shared the same concern.”My government condemns in no uncertain terms …these cowardly, wicked and murderous acts carried out at a time when leaders of both rich and deprived nations have gathered in Gleneagles to discuss important issues,” he said.In Addis Ababa, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Said Djinnit said: “We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks …The African Union expresses its condolences to the British government and the families’ of victims.”And he too expressed regret that Africa’s agenda had been sidelined.”It is even more shocking to have these kinds of events while the (G8) leaders are meeting to find solutions to poverty in Africa and are ready to express more solidarity towards this continent,” he told reporters.Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, whose own country has witnessed several brutal attacks on western and Israeli targets by Islamic militants, told the Queen: “I can assure you of our collaboration in the fight against terrorism.”His warm words were echoed across the continent by many more leaders.And, while sharing in Britain’s grief, some Africans were not spared pain of their own.A Ugandan woman – Betty Nkarubo – was killed in the attacks, according to Kampala radio, while South Africa said two of its nationals were being treated in hospital.Many in the African press, however, could not help expressing concern that the momentum towards fairer trade, debt relief and increased aid at the G8 summit might have itself fallen victim to the killers.”Africa bombed off the headlines,” lamented the Ugandan daily The Monitor, while a caller to Joy FM radio in Accra, Ghana complained: “Once again, an opportunity to focus on Africa’s problems has been lost to terrorism.”- Nampa-AFPBritain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair said the Group of Eight leaders agreed to boost development aid to Africa by 50 billion dollars, step up debt relief, re-examine trade laws and extend AIDS treatment (see report on page 14).This will have come as a relief to African leaders, who had feared that once Thursday’s bloody multiple attacks had knocked Africa off the world’s front pages the poorest continent might once again have missed its chance.”These barbaric acts were calculated to wreak havoc in an indiscriminate manner on civilians and probably create problems for the successful outcome of the G8 summit,” said Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.”We vehemently condemn such barbaric acts for which there can be no justification whatsoever,” he added, in one of many letters from African leaders to both Blair and Britain’s head of state, Queen Elizabeth II.Many Africans noted with bitter irony how the blasts had targeted Britain just as Blair was taking the lead in persuading his fellow G8 leaders to focus themselves on helping Africa escape from mounting poverty and disease.President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, who was in London for a business summit tied to the G8 meeting at the time of the blasts, expressed his country’s solidarity with Britain in a letter to the prime minister.”This is indeed unfortunate at this time when you are doing so much to bring the world together,” wrote Obasanjo.Ghana’s President John Kufuor shared the same concern.”My government condemns in no uncertain terms …these cowardly, wicked and murderous acts carried out at a time when leaders of both rich and deprived nations have gathered in Gleneagles to discuss important issues,” he said.In Addis Ababa, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Said Djinnit said: “We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks …The African Union expresses its condolences to the British government and the families’ of victims.”And he too expressed regret that Africa’s agenda had been sidelined.”It is even more shocking to have these kinds of events while the (G8) leaders are meeting to find solutions to poverty in Africa and are ready to express more solidarity towards this continent,” he told reporters.Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, whose own country has witnessed several brutal attacks on western and Israeli targets by Islamic militants, told the Queen: “I can assure you of our collaboration in the fight against terrorism.”His warm words were echoed across the continent by many more leaders.And, while sharing in Britain’s grief, some Africans were not spared pain of their own.A Ugandan woman – Betty Nkarubo – was killed in the attacks, according to Kampala radio, while South Africa said two of its nationals were being treated in hospital.Many in the African press, however, could not help expressing concern that the momentum towards fairer trade, debt relief and increased aid at the G8 summit might have itself fallen victim to the killers.”Africa bombed off the headlines,” lamented the Ugandan daily The Monitor, while a caller to Joy FM radio in Accra, Ghana complained: “Once again, an opportunity to focus on Africa’s problems has been lost to terrorism.”- Nampa-AFP