Lamu, a small island off the northeastern coast of Kenya is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country. It is a Swahili town surrounded by beaches and various other islands, offering sailing, snorkeling and culture to tourists from around the world. However, just 3 weeks ago a 66-year-old disabled French woman was kidnapped from her Lamu house and taken by boat back to mainland Somalia. This event drastically impacted the country, as Lamu and other Kenyan coastal areas thrive on the Christmas hustle of vacationers into Kenya. The US Embassy in Nairobi has advised all trips to the coast be canceled. The terrorists, as many Kenyans and international embassies think, are the al-Shabaab, a Somali group of militants linked to the al-Queda.
When the Kenyan military found out that one of the heads of the movement would be in Jilib, Somalia, they planned an attack on the camp to weaken their enemies. It was confirmed by the Kenyan military that 10 al-Shabaab fighters were killed, while another 47 were wounded. There are stories of 10 civilians also be killed, but the Kenyan government believes this is a sort of propaganda put into place by the al-Shabaab.
Threats and bomb attacks have also been placed through the city of Nairobi, a hot spot for tourists, as well as many of the International embassies. There have been two attacks in the city thus far, at a nightclub and a bus stop, leavening 1 dead and 29 wounded.
Many in Nairobi have been leift in a state of panic as many American parents are reluctant to let their children out of the house to visit with friends, or even attend school. It is the hope of Kenya, and several countries supporting Kenya that the situation will be able to be handled without any sort of war. Fighting would push Kenya into economic problems that a developing country would not be able to handle.
Rosalie Kapanga
POLS 184
Discussion: Friday at 11am
This along with many other times of problems with violence are just making it harder for Kenya to expand. The government, economy, and people of Kenya are all already weak on their own. There are so many problems with disease, fighting, kidnaps and malnutrittion. I remember when I went there years ago seeing all the problems that went on. After reading this article I couldnt agree more with the fact that if any war began or started to take place that the country wouldn't be able to handle it. There are already so many groups out there that they have to worry about that they don't need a war to add on to it. It is a shame that a tourist was kidnapped but I think that's the worst of their worries. It is good that it raised awareness though I guess. But there are so many issues that have to be dealt with.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Reichardt
Maness Friday 9:00 class