Attacks on Kenya have shocked the world

Brianne Kane – Special to the Southern News

A bustling mall turned into a bloody, war-like scene from someone’s nightmares in the Westgate Mall in Nairobi Kenya on Saturday, Sept. 21. A group of highly armed and focused men entered the mall, shooting civilians standing outside or nearby the entrance. They then went inside to begin taking hostages, killing tirelessly, and supposedly allowing Muslim hostages to leave. The questions over this attack in Kenya are non-stop: Why would they do this? Who would do this? But the answers to those questions are few and far in-between, and hard to trust given the sources and allegiances.

The attack ended with an unconfirmed 39 dead and a militant group, Al-Shabaab, claiming responsibility via Twitter. Al-Shabaab is a terrorist militant group, who is an offshoot of Al-Queda. Because of the affiliation with Al-Shabaab terrorists and Al-Queda groups, the situation is considered an act of war. By the end of the day the mall was taken over by the men associating themselves with Al-Shabaab, who continued to hold multiple hostages and were highly armed. Those few who escaped the mall claimed they heard not only high-powered shots, but grenades as well.

By the second day of the attack, it had been reported that Kenyan President Kenyatta’s nephew and his fiancé were killed in the attack. The Nairobi police said they would be launching a “major assault” on the mall and the militant within. Hostages were let free Sunday, Sept. 22 however not without being tortured and witnessing the maiming and killing of civilians.  Questions over who the attackers were begin to surface, with unconfirmed reports that at least three of the terrorists could be American; Al-Shabaab posted their names on Twitter with seven other names, all of which were international.

By day three, 200 Kenyan civilians were rescued. However, 11 Kenyan police died in the process. The militants set part of the mall on fire, causing not only a large-scale distraction but adding to the danger and complication of the hostage situation. By the end of this day the death toll had risen substantially, and the total number injured was 175.

By day four, five terrorists were killed by Kenyan officials and 11 more brought in with association to the Westgate Mall attack. By the end of the fourth day 68 people were confirmed dead, with 65 missing and 175 injured. The Kenyan military claims victory and the half-burned mall is now closed down.

But what does this mean for the United States? What does this mean internationally? The answer to all of these questions is very simple: no one knows. Al-Shabaab has promised Kenya a “long lasting war” and “blood [and] destruction.” However for most, it is not how soon to be figured out international repercussion of this attack that strikes the heartstrings, but the innocence of its victims. The Red Cross has begun identifying the victims, as to contact the families, has tallied an official number of those killed. Two of the bodies recently identified were pregnant women, one of whom was the president’s nephew’s fiancé. An eight year old boy’s body was discovered, as well as the countless others who escaped after being maimed by the militants by having their fingernails be taken off with pliers, or having their noses literally ripped off their face.

Jessica Weimann, an SCSU student said, “my reaction is honestly shock,” when hearing the news of the attack, as many other people were.

Nevertheless, the next big question surrounding the U.S. and this attack on Kenya: What will the U.S. do now? The United States has a long history of involvement in international acts of war, however given that Kenyan President Kenyatta is being tried for war crimes and Kenya’s involvement in the Somalian civil war; it is unclear what steps the United States could safely make. President Kenyatta’s case was postponed on Sept. 26, no doubt due to the recent attack, however officially to “prepare his defense.”

Sam Carlson, an SCSU student, said his reaction to the news of the Kenyan Westgate mall attack was sadly not surprise.

“Targets like shopping malls are far too common. It’s a big emotional speed bump in a decade that has otherwise been marked by growth in Africa. Kenyan relations with the U.S. have been a bit strange lately,” said Carlson.

Since President Obama didn’t visit Kenya in his most recent trip to Africa, however it is unclear whether this had to do with the war crimes Kenyan President Kenyatta is being charged with or something else.

But what about military involvement on the part of the US?

“They may resent our presence…I personally think that this is a matter best left to the Kenyan people, but it would also help open up a dialogue,” said Carlson. “If this act of terrorism succeeds in bringing two nations closer together, then it will have failed.”

There continues to be debate in Washington and Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, over the best next solution.

Weimann however agrees with Carlson: “I don’t think we should be involved. We don’t need to stick our noses into everything unless we’re asked.”

The likelihood of U.S. or international involvement in the Nairobi Westgate mall attack is still entirely uncertain, although leaning towards unlikely. Given the past history between Kenya and the United States, the recent war crimes the president of Kenya is being charged with, and the growing tension between sects of Al-Queda and the United Nations, and calculated and democratic move will be seen soon.