Terrorism, Instability, and Democracy in Asia and Africa

Chapter 12: The Terrorist Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa

chapter 12 The Terrorist Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa I nstability and terrorism are not confined to northern Africa. Almost every state south of the Sahara Desert has had some form of terrorist incident—with the exception of one, Malawi. The remaining Sub-Saharan states have had varying degrees of instability that have resulted in terrorist attacks. This chapter focuses on the four states that have experienced the highest levels of terrorism within the Sub-Saharan region: Uganda, Angola, South Africa, and Kenya. Malawi is also included as one of the rare examples of an African nation-state not in perpetual chaos, as it has a terrorism-free history. Sub-Saharan African states have suffered countless governmental changes since the region gained its independence from colonial masters in the 1960s during the “Springtime of Freedom.” Since that time, most states have experienced leadership changes initiated by military coup or prolonged civil war. Violent conflict seems to be a part of everyday life in Sub-Saharan Africa. Explanation for some of this can be found in the colonial era of the continent. Some states colonized under the French now experience a system “very centralized, unified, and bureaucratic and based on direct rule and assimilation. In contrast to the British system which was regarded as very decentralized, pragmatic and based on indirect rule, which means the respect of native customs and chiefs” (Ousman , 2004: 67). Additionally, the creation of arbitrary boundaries between colonial powers resulted in ethnic problems. Prior to colonial rule, ethnic groups lived in regions recognized by each other. With poorly drawn colonial boundaries, traditional enemies have been forced to live together in close proximity or ethnic groups are spread across multiple borders, creating tensions between states (Kalipeni, 1992: 4). 183 Another aspect of Sub-Saharan African life is a general acceptance of death. Ancient history teaches us the differences in the ways cultures develop based on the environment. Mesopotamia developed more of the “live for today” philosophy based on the random flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Egypt was a more planned society because of the annual flooding of the Nile. For Sub-Saharan Africa, life was harsh with disease taking a large toll, particularly among newborns and children. Infant mortality rates were, and remain, high, and created a society where death is common and an almost daily part of a tribal life. In Rwanda, personal accounts of brutal killings—where ethnic Hutus stood in line and waited their turn—emphasize an acceptance of the harshness of life in SubSaharan Africa. Tribalism is another common aspect of Sub-Saharan life. Tribalism is ethnic heritage that creates common links between like-minded people. Ethnicity plays a key role in much of the violence in Sub-Saharan Africa. For example, the brutal killings in Rwanda show how deep ethnic hatreds can run. But “tribalism is one of the most difficult African concepts to grasp and one of the most essential in understanding Africa” (Lamb, 1987). Tribalism and other ethnic differences bring a usable dynamic to African terrorists. As seen in the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda, the issue is partially about members of the Choia ethnic group following a Choia-centric national vision and perpetrating acts of terror against ethnic opponents who do not share in the LRA vision. If a strong tribal group exists, it becomes a natural link for recruiting and identifying an organization’s friends and enemies. Lord’s Resistance Army—A Brutal Terrorist Campaign in Uganda The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has exhibited a particularly brutal brand of terrorism through rape, torture, and murder. This movement is one of the newest on the continent but has proven to be one of the deadliest . In existence since 1986, the LRA has been linked to thirty-three incidents of terrorist activity (MIPT-TKB). Most of these attacks, 57 percent, were directed against private citizens and property (MIPT-TKB). The founder of the organization, Joseph Kony, began his movement as an armed rebellion against the government of Uganda with the goal of establishing a new government under his control (MIPT-TKB). 184 Terrorism, Instability, and Democracy in Asia and Africa The recent history of Uganda has been the setting for violence and brutality. Action by the LRA could be perceived as a continuation of the violence the state has experienced over the years. It is difficult to determine where the state changed, as Uganda...