The bombings that have killed more than 74 innocent people in Uganda (the death toll may rise) must be a wake-up call for the rest of Africa – a reminder that African countries need to work together if the continent is to achieve last peace, stability and the much needed development. 
Al-Shabab, a Somali militia group that has been a cause of so much trouble in Somalia, has since claimed responsibility for the bombings. There are two possible reasons why the Al-Shabab carried out the attacks. First: the Al-Shababa have in the in past threatened to attack Uganda on the grounds that Ugandan army is part of the estimated 5,000 troops that form African Union’s peace keeping force, which protects the government of Somalia. The second possibility is that the Al-Shabab had banned World Cup TV viewing in Somalia and threatened to kill anyone found watching the tournament, as Al-Shabab considered it as un-islamic.
Clearly, the Al-Shabab’s motive is to force neighbouring countries to withdraw their soldiers in Somalia thereby weakening the AU’s peace-keeping forces in Somalia. This would then hand power to the Al-Shabab and allow them to operate as they please. It’s not new that terrorist groups have resorted to such strategies – in fact, it is a known strategy.
This tragic incident must instead be a wake-up call for the AU and Africa’s regional groupings to start intervening in troubled countries like Somalia and ensure stability. It is such a shame and I do not take pride in calling an incident that has taken at least 74 lives, as best example of what can happen if Africa leave individual countries to deal with their own problems. Problems spill-spill over! Any country cannot truly be safe when its neighbours are at war, harbouring terrorists or indeed both, as the case of Somalia.
Unfortunately, African countries do not seem to see this neither do they seem eager to learn from past experiences. Similar thing happened in 2008 in South Africa when the nationals resorted to xenophobic attacks on foreigners, mostly Zimbabwe nationals, as South Africans felt that the Zimbabweans were taking their jobs – a lot of people diet and the tensions has not truly died up until today.
All the commotions and unnecessary deaths that resulted from the attacks could have been avoided had SADC and/or AU acted swiftly to intervene in Zimbabwe and rescue the country from the Robert Mugabe led political and economic melt down. Today South Africa seems to have realise that they needed to intervene in Zimbabwe if South Africa itself is to have stability.
The sad Somalia has long been known as a “failed state”, and it would appear everyone has come to accept it. No one is any longer interesting in sorting it out. Unfortunately, Somalia has become a breeding ground terrorists in East Africa. Attention seeking groups like the Al-Shabab that now have very little to prove in Somalia, will start targeting neighbouring countries, as has been the case here. East African countries must come together and sort out the mess in Somalia.
This is not a Somali problem, it is regional, if not a continental problem!
I was saddened to learn of this and I am grateful that my own family are well and were not caught up in the bombings.
Jimmy you and I discussed the issue of the POINT of the AU over on my blog last week http://ethnicsupplies.org/politics/what-is-the-… . What really is the point of AU? Why is it that only Uganda and Burundi have contributed troops to the Somalian question? They are hardly the strongest or best resourced armies within the AU, are they?
My other worry is that for as far as I can remember the Somalis have sought refuge in Uganda and I learned today from a relative that they receive financial payments the sort the UK immigration office gives to refugees in the UK. That being the case, the big question is why turn on a generous host in that way?
I am also worried about the reprisals that may arise out of this against the ordinary Somali person that is going about their business /day to day life in Kampala, you only have to scan the Facebook profiles of Ugandans to understand how angry ordinary Ugandans are- one read THE GLOVES ARE OFF SOMALIA IT IS WAR!
Of course you know what this means! ordinary folk taking the law into their hands against those they perceive as being responsible for this.
A united Africa would indeed have to start with not standing on sideline as other African nations fail!
These are very sad events, and it is most appalling that these low-lives chose to harm one of the most hospitable people on the continent. The African Union has an opportunity to prove its relevance with the upcoming AU summit in Kampala. And hopefully, they do as well address the South Sudan situation with the upcoming cessation referendum.
Let us hope and pray that Ugandans do overcome the anger and continue to extend their warmth and hospitality to Somali guests; the bombings were individual acts of terrorism by some low-lives not the Somali community.
I've lost 2 associate friends and an affiliate who was stationed there on a research project from overseas.
After listening to various theories and reasons as to whys and how Uganda came to be a target – I am finding myself getting angry by what is coming up. Without reiterating what Ida has stated, I am suspicious that Uganda is being used as canon fodder for cleaning up a messy political situation in a part of Africa where no other country aside from Burundi is willing to venture.
Uganda in its present state, socially and economically is ill-equipped to deal with repurcusions of terrorist operatives and their activities. If developed nations like US or even here in UK are still embattled with fallouts from recent and current wars, then how can a developing country like Uganda with its infrastrucure cope?
Somalia is an Islamic state and I for one think redress to the issues in this country should be sought through Islamic countries if we are to avoid prolonged bloodshed.
If that is indeed the reaction of the Somalis it is unfortunate and misguided indeed. You and I know that the ordinary man on the street in Kampala will not let this go!
I however think the AU must unite to deal with this sort of situation to avoid this becoming business as usual, see what happened to the Zim people that went to South Africa, then there was the genocide and Kenya- if the rest of Africa turns a blind eye, like Jimmy says the problems spill over!
America probably never envisaged the Somalis targeting them on Ugandan soil in this way too!
It will indeed be interesting to see how the AU summit in Kampala handles this. Please keep us posted, perhaps pen a blog about it for this site?
Very good points made. Cb4tsk makes good observation about the Somali intervention, UK and the US are already in bad books with Muslims and Islamic states around the world. This means the chances of these countries intervening are very thin. I truly believe the solution lies with Africa. The continent has regional groupings and the AU – these are sort of challenges that they must stand-up to. Not just attending summits, have free lunch and collect allowances!
I had a conversation with Ida where I suggested that maybe it's time to have full-time AU chairperson? Not a state president who has other priorities and commitments to attend to. I hope the Ugandans stay calm, but this will be difficult if none of the bombers have been arrested.
Once again, these terrorists have nothing to prove in Somalia, they will only use it as a base to attack neighbouring countries. The best way of dealing with this problem is to sort out Somalia and not only securing one's national borders. AU peace keeping forces can not be in Somalia forever. Where is the long term plan?
AU peace keeping forces can not be in Somalia forever. where is the long term plan.- I think there in lies the problem in all peace keeping missions currently in operation- there doesn't appear to be a long term plan- the big question is where do we go from here?
Clearly the AU doesn't have the clout to resolve this