₦airaland Forum

HNosegbe: Aha... Naptu to the rescue, yet again.

nagoma: In the early seventies ( 1972 I think) when the change occurred uniformity was being encouraged world wide. More countries were driving on the right hand side of the road except countries with British colonial background. Nigeria was ( and is) surrounded by countries with French colonial history who had always been driving on the right. ( Benin republic, Cameroon, Niger and chad) their drivers use our Nigerian ports and our drivers delivered goods to those countries with much confusion. It made much sense to make that change. America and Britain are simply proud and feel important so they refuse to change from their imperial systems. It is the same with metric system; only in America and UK do you hear of awkward measurements in miles, pounds ,stones , ounces and inches.

Hello Akwasi Sarpong here, I'm presenting Focus on Africa today at 15, 17 and 19GMT. Some of the stories we are working on

Kenya remains the main story with Kenyan Defence forces saying they're defusing explosive devices in Nairobi's Westgate Mall hours after sporadic gunfire was heard there. Is the siege over?

We hear more personal stories from survivors

In neighbouring Uganda, the military chief says the AU mission in Somalia is overstretched. President Kenyatta is due to address the nation. What must the government do next?

Should 10 to 16 year olds be given contraceptives? In Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health says its considering doing so to reduce early teenage pregnancies.

And we'll also look ahead to Friday's Africa Debate on the topic: Can democracy deliver for Africa? Any strong views? Share them here for Focus on Africa. (as ever please let us know where you are writing from)

[size=14pt]Nairobi attack: Kenya forces comb Westgate site[/size]

24 September 2013 Last updated at 09:24

Kenyan security forces are combing the Nairobi shopping centre attacked by suspected al-Shabab militants, as they seek to secure the site.

An explosion and bursts of gunfire were heard coming from the Westgate complex on Tuesday morning, as speculation grew that the operation was nearing its end.

At least 62 people have been killed with more than 170 injured.

Meanwhile, Kenya's foreign minister said "two or three" Americans and a British woman were among the attackers.

In an interview with the US TV programme PBS Newshour, Amina Mohamed said the Americans were 18 or 19 years old, of Somali or Arab origin, and lived "in Minnesota and one other place".

She said the Briton was a woman who has "done this many times before".

Ms Mohamed appeared to contradict earlier comments from Kenya's interior minister, who suggested that all the attackers were men - though some may have been dressed as women.

The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Nairobi says Ms Mohamed's remarks have fuelled media speculation about the possible involvement of Samantha Lewthwaite, the widow of one of the men who carried out attacks on London's transport system on 7 July 2005.

British officials said they would not be drawn on the identity of the attackers while investigations continue.

The Kenyan Red Cross has told the BBC that 63 people remain unaccounted for.

Early on Tuesday a Kenyan officer at the scene said he believed there could be two or three attackers left inside the building.

Kenyan officials said earlier that three "terrorists" had been killed, and that 10 people had been arrested.

The Somali Islamist al-Shabab movement has said it carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenyan military operations in Somalia.

Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku told the BBC late on Monday that the operation would continue overnight, but stressed it was in its final stages.

"The terrorists could be running and hiding in some stores, but all floors now are under our control," he said. "There is no room for escape."

The interior ministry said it believed all hostages had been released.

Blood donations

As night fell on Monday, flames and thick smoke continued to rise from the building an hour after four large explosions shook the neighbourhood.

Between 12 and 15 militants stormed the Westgate centre on Saturday, throwing grenades and firing on shoppers and staff.

At least 18 foreigners are among the dead, including six Britons, as well as citizens from France, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Peru, India, Ghana, South Africa and China.


https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/200/media/images/70067000/gif/_70067717_floorplans_3-01_624.gif

Nearly 200 people were wounded, including five Americans.

President Barack Obama called the attack a "terrible outrage" and said the US was providing all the co-operation it could to Kenya.

Thousands of Kenyans have been responding to appeals for blood donations.

Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, has repeatedly threatened attacks on Kenyan soil if Nairobi did not pull its troops out of Somalia.

There are about 4,000 Kenyan troops in the south of Somalia as part of an African Union force supporting Somali government forces.

Al-Shabab is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia.

Despite being pushed out of key cities in the past two years, it remains in control of smaller towns and large swathes of the countryside.

BBC Africa

UK Home Secretary Theresa May has said she cannot confirm or deny that a British woman was involved in the Westgate attack. Speaking at a press conference in Pakistan, Ms May said: "I'm aware that there have been reports of a British woman being involved, but until we have seen the investigations completed, it is not possible to give further details to confirm or deny that issue."

[size=14pt]Readout of the President's Meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria[/size]

President Obama and President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria met at the White House on Wednesday, June 8 and reaffirmed the strong bilateral partnership between the two countries. 

The President personally congratulated President Jonathan on the success of Nigeria’s recent elections, which deepened the foundation for future democratic contests.  The leaders discussed how the Jonathan administration can build on this momentum by investing in Nigeria’s energy supply, agricultural productivity, democratic institutions, and security sector. 

The President called on President Jonathan to make fighting corruption a national priority and a critical step in ensuring the necessary conditions for sustained economic growth and lasting prosperity. 

The President thanked President Jonathan for his leadership both regionally and within the United Nations Security Council on pressing issues such as Sudan, Libya, and Cote d’Ivoire.  Both leaders agreed to continue to work together to promote peace and security.

The Kenyan foreign minister Amina Mohamed has said the group that attacked the shopping centre in Nairobi included at least three American citizens of Somali or Arab origin. Ms Mohamed told US television that a British woman was also thought to have been involved.

No one is fighting islam here but only critising their love 4 human blood. THEY R LIKE HUNGRY MAD PIGS

We Somalian People offering our deepest Condolences for the Kenyan Victims of terror attacks in Nairobi,West gate Shopping Mall.Somali People is having similar Terror Attacts every single day.This proves that Alshababs are not only locally active in Somalia Soil ,but the whole regions and Global Threats.The East African Countries has to work together closely with Somali Governments inorder to defeat this Extremists.Al-Shababs don't represent the Somali muslim Community and Somali people Rejects their views of Extremist version of Islam and acts of Voilences.They have no Place in our Somali Society.The War of Al-Shababs is far away to go.The terrorism remain a major concern in all horn of African Countries join and need to face one fight directions.The fight of Al-Shababs is not only have to bite the bullet,but also focus on hearts and minds aswel.People must remember the Al-Shababs is no longer Somali terror Organizations,but International threat and Global link Al-Qaeda groups.

Home work for america. Is the land of opportunities breeding ground for terrorists?

british 'white widow' samantha escaping..thot kdf wil take the glory of killing the in'tl terrorist

Eish some muslims,,,,,i dont know what they mean when they say they are peaceful people,,i think the opposite is true.

In south sudan, we have no single law in the constitution that mention anything related to muslims. Meaning they have no room to get a shelter in south sudan!

iam a Muslim and I have never support like that group ALshabab is a human enemy

Islam is a religion founded upon de foundation of lies. U will oftn hear muslims cleaning der hands,on tv en in chat room bt wen dey go indoors to chant to dat,idol called allah, dey r blood thirst en,full of vergence. I also warn black people wu join islam coz of poverty. Wake up from yo slumbern state. That plate of rice u receive every friday is not worth for u to sell yo souls. Suicide bombers wake up in hell

[size=14pt]Kenya says killed two militants in Monday operations[/size]

Mon, Sep 23 07:57 AM EDT

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's interior minister said gunmen holed up inside a Nairobi shopping mall had caused a plume of smoke by setting mattresses alight in a supermarket as a decoy, and said two of the "terrorists" had been killed on Monday.

"We don't want to give you a definitive position on when we think the process will come to an end, but we are doing anything reasonably possible, cautiously though, to bring this process to an end," Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku told a news conference.

The minister also said all the militants were men, although some had dressed as women, possibly explaining witness accounts that some of those who launched the assault on Saturday were women.

(Reporting by James Macharia and Richard Lough; Writing by Edmund Blair; editing by Mike Collett-White)

#Kenya's interior minister says there were very few hostages left in the building, as almost all had been evacuated. Westgateattack

The African Union says the attack in #Kenya has strengthened its resolve to fight the group and completely liberate Somalia. #Westgateattack

[size=14pt]Police ignored me as I exposed Westgate terrorist – survivor[/size]

September 21, 2013 by KENNEDY KANGETHE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 21 – A survivor of the Westgate terrorist attack has recounted how police ignored him when he pointed to them one of the gunmen who disguised himself as a victim.

The witness told how the gunman changed his clothes and mingled with other victims before he vanished in the crowd outside the mall.

“The man is of Arab origin, he changed his clothes on first floor and left with the victims as they were being rescued,” he said.

“When I saw him outside the building I told the police this is one of the gunmen but they did not heed to my plea but asked me to get out.”

The account raised fears most of the attackers may have escaped during the confusion, although some were detained or killed during the mayhem.

One of the gunmen who had earlier been detained in hospital succumbed to his bullet wounds.

Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab rebels claimed responsibility for the attack saying on Twitter it was in retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia.

“The Mujahideen entered #Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still inside the mall, fighting the #Kenyan Kuffar (infidels) inside their own turf,” the Islamist militants tweeted.

“What Kenyans are witnessing at #Westgate is retributive justice for crimes committed by their military,” the group said.

Masked gunmen stormed the teeming upmarket mall in Nairobi on Saturday, sprayed gunfire and killing around 30 people and injuring more than 60 others before holing themselves up in the complex with hostages.

The gunmen are said to have spoken in a foreign language, possibly Arabic or Somali.

Kenya police firing tear gas and warning shots at Kenyan onlookers. Crowd getting angry #westgate

Here's another view of the smoke currently billowing from the shopping centre. Kenya's interior minister says the fire was started by the militants who set mattresses alight in a supermarket.

Senior Israeli security official: "There are no Israeli soldiers fighting in #Kenya. There are no Israeli hostages in the mall."

it's crazy over here, the levels of anxiety are extreme, we still waiting for a word of the events unfolding.

I can see a military armoured vehicle driving out, away from the scene. We do not know what is going on. Helicopters fly over every now and again. The military operation appears organised.

"They were shooting anybody and everyone who came in their way," says a survivor of the Westgate attack. He told the BBC World Service he confronted one of the gunmen. "I actually saw him face-to-face - he did fire two shots at me, but I don't know how he missed."

A man suspected to have been involved in the Westgate attack is arrested at JKIA.The man who had disguised himself was travelling to Turkey.

Adedayo516: Somalia, they represent somalia(at least according to them). And BTW, has anybody heard a single speech from Somalia's President condemning the attack ??

[size=14pt]Somali president condemns al-Shabaab attack in Kenya[/size]

Posted by: Apa Posted date : September 22, 2013 at 5:40 pm 18 views In: Africa


The Somali government has condemned Saturday’s terrorist attack in Kenya which killed 54 people including children. Expressing his condolences to the Kenyan people, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared in Mogadishu on Sunday: “These heartless acts against defenceless civilians, including innocent children, are beyond the pale and cannot be tolerated. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Kenya in its time of grief for these lives lost and the many injured.”

Mohamud added: “We in Somalia know only too well the human costs of violence like this. We send a strong message of solidarity with the Kenyan government, our valued partners in the campaign to bring peace to Somalia.”

The Somali group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the killings at the Westgate Shopping mall, citing Kenya’s troop involvement in Somalia as the reason for the onslaught.

Meanwhile latest reports suggest that the standoff at the mall continues as Kenyan soldiers backed by Israeli commandos take on the militants whose numbers have been put at 15.

[size=14pt]Nairobi Westgate attack: Gunfire heard inside complex[/size]

23 September 2013 Last updated at 07:21

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/200/media/images/70062000/jpg/_70062329_70062327.jpg

Troops could be seen on the move in the area surrounding the mall before dawn on Monday morning

Heavy gunfire and explosions have been heard at the shopping centre in Nairobi where militants are said to be holding a number of hostages.

Sixty-eight people have been killed and more than 170 injured since the attack began in Kenya's capital on Saturday.

Between 10 and 15 attackers - thought to be militants from the Somali al-Shabab movement - are still inside the Westgate shopping centre.

Reporters at the scene said there had been heavy and rapid bursts of fire.

The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Nairobi says that the battle to end the long stand-off is continuing in earnest as conditions for those trapped inside the complex deteriorate.

An unnamed Kenyan security source told the AFP news agency that an army assault was underway.

An AFP correspondent at the scene said he heard about 15 minutes of fierce gunfire which then subsided.

A photographer accompanying the correspondent said troops deployed around the mall were forced to duck for cover.

The photographer said it "sounded as if the shots were coming from somewhere around the mall, or were being fired from a vantage point in the mall".

The defence forces said on Twitter several hours ago: "All efforts are under way to bring this matter to a speedy conclusion."

Authorities have emphasised that it is a delicate operation as the safe rescue of the hostages is their top priority, says our correspondent.

'More bodies'

Overnight reports said that the gunmen were holed up in a supermarket.

Earlier, defence spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna said only a small number of hostages were still being held and most had been rescued.

As troops continued to clear the building, it was possible they would come across more bodies, Col Oguna warned on Sunday.

In a news conference on Sunday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the country was united and strong in adversity.

"The criminals are now located in one place within the building," he said.

"With the professionals on site, we have as good a chance to neutralise the terrorists as we could hope for," he said.

Mr Kenyatta said his nephew and the man's fiancee were among the dead.

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that three Britons have been killed, and says the number is likely to rise.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a tweet on Monday morning that he was returning to London to chair a meeting of the UK's emergency response committee, Cobra.

US President Barack Obama called President Kenyatta on Sunday to express condolences and reiterate "US support for Kenya's efforts to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice".

The wife of an American working for the US Agency for International Development was killed, US officials said.

Prominent Ghanaian poet Kofi Awoonor - who was attending a literary festival in Nairobi - also died, as did a Chinese woman.

French, Dutch, South African, Indian and Canadian nationals are also among the foreigners confirmed killed, along with a dual Australian-British national.

Thousands of Kenyans responded on Sunday to appeals for blood donations.

Al-Shabab says it carried out the attack in response to Kenyan military operations in Somalia.

The group, which is part of the al-Qaeda network, has repeatedly threatened attacks on Kenyan soil if Nairobi did not pull its troops out of Somalia.

There are about 4,000 Kenyan troops in the south of Somalia, where they have been fighting the militants since 2011.

Scun: I remember not too long ago Lebanese were exposed for stock piling arms they intended using in attacking Israeli targets. That mall in Kenya also belongs to the Israeli. This kind of situation could have happened in Abuja, our security agencies deserve commendation for uncovering the plot

Horus: Do you think that the Security Service is ready for a similar attack in Lagos?

Kenya Defence Forces tweets: Most of the hostages have been rescued and security forces have taken control of most parts of the building.

Kenya Defence Forces tweets: In the process 4 KDF personnel sustained injuries and taken to hospital for treatment. #WestgateAttack

#Kenya police @PoliceKE tweeting: "A MAJOR assault by security forces ongoing to end two-day siege at Westgate mall." #WestgateAttack

#Westgate: @annesoy says ambulances were leaving the scene, along with a pick-up truck covered with blankets that may be carrying bodies.

The BBC's Anne Soy, who was about 300m from the shopping centre, said increased gunfire rang out around 16:00 GMT #WestgateAttack

President Kenyatta said his nephew and the young man's fiancee had died in the #westgateattack

"This is not the time for travel advisories. This is not a Kenyan, but international war" - President Uhuru Kenyatta

Kenya's interior ministry @InteriorKE says Kenyans have so far raised more than US$70,000 to help the victims of the #Westgate attack.

A BBC Security analyst says sources told him at least one of the attackers was a woman who had some kind of leadership role. #Westgate

The #Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre tweets: Positive developments. 5 hostages released. Siege at #Westgate continues.

#Kenya's Interior Ministry tweets: We're here until #Westgate is secure. We urge the media to take precautions as they keep vigil.

One odd thing today; Al-Shabaab's live tweeting & taunting of victims of the #WestgateAttack. Account now suspended. #Kenya #Somalia.

Cmmdr, Kenya contingent of #AMISOM, Brig. Antony Ngere, told me just BEFORE #Westgate; "This war is long, but we shall prevail" #Somalia

Decryptor: I clicked on the link and i saw no pictures...or is the Man's name "Error" and the woman's name "404!"