23 October 2001
Africans Condemn September 11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States
(Sub-Saharan African governments, organizations speak out) (2050)
Washington -- In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the
World Trade Center in New York and the U.S. Defense Department's main
headquarters outside Washington, known as the Pentagon -- and a
related plane crash in Pennsylvania -- many African countries offered
their condemnations of the attacks and their condolences to the
victims.
Victims from the terrorist attack and destruction of the World Trade
Center twin tower office buildings in New York City came from more
than 65 nations.
Following is an updated summary list of those statements -- some of
which were obtained from a similar list run by Fox News. (This version
of the list adds Senegal and updates the most recent version run on
October 18, which was updated to add comments from Djibouti, Eritrea,
Gabon, The Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, and Togo.
Comments are also included from the Southern African Development
Community, and an additional statement is included from South Africa.)
This list is based on information available at press time. The
original version of the list was run September 20.
ANGOLA: Angola condemned the attacks and expressed sympathy for the
victims' families.
BURKINA FASO: "Burkina Faso condemns these terrorist attacks in the
same way it condemns all forms of terrorism," said President Blaise
Compaore.
BURUNDI: President Pierre Buyoya expressed his condolences to all
Americans, especially those living in Burundi.
CAMEROON: President Paul Biya sent a letter to President Bush offering
condolences over "the horrifying tragedy."
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: The government condemned the attacks and
sent two Cabinet ministers to sign a condolence book at the U.S.
Embassy.
COTE D'IVOIRE: President Laurent Gbagbo condemned "with the utmost
firmness these acts, which no human reason could possibly justify."
DJIBOUTI: From President Ismail Omar Guelleh: "In this tragic time,
the Djiboutian people and the Djiboutian government join me to:
Condemn vehemently these cowardly and criminal acts; share with the
American people and its government their pain; and also show to the
American nation our solidarity and friendship."
ETHIOPIA: The Ethiopian minister of foreign affairs, Seyoum Mesfin,
wrote a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell.
"The criminal and cowardly acts of terror that have struck America
have created a deep sense of grief and sorrow here in Ethiopia," the
foreign minister said.
"The Ethiopian people and the Government of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia on this day of sorrow sympathize and stand in
solidarity with the American people and their government. Even though
these vicious and barbaric acts and their aftermath of death and
destruction are painfully felt, it is our belief that America's
resolve and firm stand against terror will not diminish.
"Allow me, Excellency, to extend to you my personal condolences and
the expression of solidarity of the Government of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia."
Seyoum Mesfin
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
September 12, 2001
ERITREA: President Isaias Afwerki noted: "At this hour of national
grief and tragedy, I wish to express to the American people and to
you, our profound sorrow on behalf of the people and government of
Eritrea."
GABON: President El Hadj Omar Bongo said, "At this particularly
painful time for the American people, I would like to extend to you,
in my name and in the name of the Gabonese people, my sincere
condolences and the compassion and solidarity of all of my countrymen.
Gabon has always condemned terrorism and will continue to do so."
THE GAMBIA: Head of State Yahya Jammeh condemned "in the strongest
possible terms such mindless acts which result in the deaths of
innocent people and the wanton destruction of property and urge that
those responsible be brought to justice and made to account for these
evil acts."
GHANA: "We consider the attacks as a strike against humanity and
civilization all over the world," said Foreign Affairs Minister
Hackman Owusu-Agyeman.
GUINEA: President Lansana Conte expressed sympathy over the attacks on
a visit to the U.S. Embassy.
KENYA: President Daniel T. arap Moi said it appeared these were
"coordinated acts of terrorism." As president of a country that has
suffered from heinous and evil acts of terrorism, he condemned "in the
strongest terms possible these cowardly and heinous acts." He pointed
out that terrorism can never be the basis for resolution of any
conflict and must therefore remain outlawed and condemned by all
people of good will. Noting that these tragic incidents had led to
loss of innocent lives and destruction of property, President Moi
called on the international community to redouble efforts in the fight
against terrorism. In 1998, Kenya was the site of one of the twin U.S.
Embassy bombings linked to Usama bin Laden.
LESOTHO: Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili expressed in late
September his government's condolences to the United States for the
"heinous atrocity perpetrated by terrorists."
LIBERIA: "Today the hands of evil have struck America," President
Charles Taylor said at a prayer service. "Tomorrow it could be any
other nation." President Taylor also publicly supported U.S. military
action and offered "elite units" and blanket clearance for use of
airfields/airspace.
MADAGASCAR: Prime Minister Tantely Andrianarivo condemned the attacks,
saying the people of Madagascar stand in solidarity with the American
people and its government.
MALAWI: President Bakili Muzuli, a Muslim, described the attacks as
acts of "barbarism" and criticized them for going against the
teachings of Islam. "We all worship God to go to heaven and we cannot
kill in order to go there," he said. "This is an attack not on the
American people alone but also a crime against all humanity and its
civilization. It has reverberated throughout the world and shaken all
peace-loving people."
MAURITANIA: Government spokesman Rachid Ould Saleh condemned the
terrorist attacks as being "horrible."
MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambique condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity
with the United States. President Joaquim Chissano urged the United
States to think first before reacting and to be responsible in its
actions.
NAMIBIA: Namibia's foreign minister stated on October 11 that "America
has the right, as an act of self-defense, to retaliate and put an end
to terrorism."
NIGERIA: Nigeria condemned the terrorist assaults on Washington and
New York as a 'dastardly attack' on America.
In a message to President Bush, President Olusegun Obasanjo extended
condolences on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria and on
his own behalf over the "sadistic terrorist attack" on the American
people.
President Obasanjo described the attack as "callous and dastardly,"
adding that it must be condemned by all peace-loving people the world
over.
"The perpetrators of this heinous crime that has resulted in huge
losses of lives and property must not go unpunished," President
Obasanjo said in his message.
"Terrorism and terrorists must never be given comfort," he said. "The
spirit of democracy must never be downcast but must be buoyed up and
made unconquerable," he said.
He added that Nigerian prayers and sympathy "also go to the families
of those who have lost their beloved ones in this attack."
REPUBLIC OF CONGO: "All people of the world have to organize
themselves to fight terrorism and enable the values of peace, freedom
and development to triumph," President Denis Sassou-Nguesso said.
RWANDA: President Paul Kagame expressed the country's "deepest
condolences" to Americans, their leaders, "and the families who lost
their loved ones, at this hour of profound national catastrophe."
SAO TOME and PRINCIPE: The country condemned the attacks as
"barbaric."
SENEGAL: President Abdoulaye Wade underlined in Dakar October
17, that the "dangerous amalgam that some make between Islam and
terrorism
is unacceptable."
During his phone conversation with President Bush on October 9th,
President
Wade expressed his solidarity and support for the global antiterrorism
campaign launched by President Bush. President Bush thanked President
Wade
for his support in this effort. President Wade told President Bush
that
Islam is a peaceful religion and that all democracies have a common
cause in
eradicating terrorism.
A release from the Senegalese State House shortly after reports of
terrorist
attacks on buildings in New York and Washington, said the President,
government and people of Senegal "shared the pain and indignation of
the
American government and people."
It said Senegal has always opted for peace and condemned violence and
terrorism.
SIERRA LEONE: President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah said his government and
people "hope and pray that the almighty God will give the injured
people speedy recovery and the bereaved families succor and solace in
this period of grief."
SOMALIA: President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan expressed his condolences
for the attack.
SOUTH AFRICA: "On behalf of the people and Government of South Africa,
the President [Thabo Mbeki] condemns these dastardly actions.
"The South African Government joins the world in unreservedly
denouncing these senseless and horrific attacks.
"The Government further calls on the international community to unite
against global terrorism.
"The Government expresses its confidence that the United States'
authorities will ensure the perpetrators face the full might of the
law.
"On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, the President
expresses his condolences to President George Bush and the people of
the United States.
"During this time of incredible national hardship and grief, the
President extends his sympathies to those who lost loved ones."
Additional statement from South Africa:
"The Government reaffirms its unequivocal condemnation of the
terrorist attacks on various cities of the USA.
"South Africa recognizes the right of the USA administration to seek
out those responsible for those acts of terror ... and to ensure that
justice is meted out to them."
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) MINISTERS FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND FINANCE: "We strongly condemn this ghastly and barbaric
act of terrorism and wanton destruction of property. We further
condemn all forms of terrorism and reaffirm our commitment to
contribute to regional, continental and international efforts to fight
this scourge which knows no boundaries."
SUDAN: President Omer al Bashir said that Sudan denounces and condemns
these horrific acts of terror. He added, in a statement, that
targeting innocent civilians is "a crime against humanity and morality
that contradicts all decent principles." He said that whoever stands
behind these acts must be condemned and brought to justice. The
government of Sudan calls upon the international community to
"cooperate and work diligently in combating all forms of terrorism."
The president also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to President
Bush, the government of the United States, and the American people. He
expressed his sympathy and offered his condolences to the families of
the victims of the tragedy.
SWAZILAND: Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini condemned the "monstrous
acts" and sent condolences to the victims. "But as in war ... we must
carry on in our work, striving to ensure that good triumphs [over]
evil," he said.
TANZANIA: President Benjamin Mkapa condemned the attacks, and the
Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, "We sincerely hope that
the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be tracked down,
apprehended and brought to justice." In 1998, Tanzania was the site of
one of the twin U.S. Embassy bombings linked to Usama bin Laden.
TOGO: "We firmly condemn these terrorist acts which constitute a
threat not only to America's security but also against international
security and world peace," said President Gnassingbe Eyadema.
He called it "unacceptable that the United States, which is putting
forth tremendous efforts for peace and stability everywhere they are
threatened, is subject to criminal acts so serious as to constitute a
declaration of war."
UGANDA: President Yoweri Museveni offered condolences and condemned
the attack. "The Ugandan government has always been warning the world
about the actions of terrorists which are always either cowardly or
misguided," he said.
ZAMBIA: President Frederick Chiluba promised his country would "stand
with the United States to fight international terrorism for
preservation of Christian values and democracy."
ZIMBABWE: President Robert Mugabe wrote to President Bush expressing
horror at the attacks and his people's solidarity with America. The
attacks appeared to be the work of "the most remorseless and hardened
enemies of the United States government and people, and indeed, of all
the peace-loving people of the wider world," he wrote.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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