Title: “American embassy attacks in East Africa: 25 years later, the quest for compensation for victims continues”
Introduction:
25 years ago, East Africa was the scene of a tragic event that would forever mark the region’s history. On August 7, 1998, truck bombs exploded in front of the American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killing 224 people and injuring more than 4,000 others. These attacks, claimed by an al-Qaeda cell, shed a harsh light on international terrorism and disrupted the lives of many victims. Despite the passage of time, the quest for compensation for these victims remains unanswered.
The carnage that followed the explosions left an indelible mark on the collective memory of the region. The attacks were on an unprecedented scale in sub-Saharan Africa and demonstrated the striking power of al-Qaeda. The United States responded quickly by carrying out retaliatory strikes in Sudan and Afghanistan, pointing the finger at Osama bin Laden as the mastermind of these terrorist operations. These attacks prefigure those of September 11, 2001 which will forever mark world history.
The impact of these attacks on the region was not limited to the tragic day of August 7, 1998. Kenya, in particular, was hit hard by terrorism in the years that followed. His involvement in the fight against Shebab in Somalia in 2011 made the country a prime target for terrorists. Subsequent attacks, such as the Westgate Mall massacre in 2013 and the Garissa University attack in 2015, continued to spread terror and grief among the population.
The quest for compensation for the victims of the attacks of August 7, 1998 is a subject that remains current. In 2021, the U.S. government announced compensation for U.S. citizens and embassy personnel who were victims of these attacks. Sudan, accused of having supported the terrorist group, agreed to pay financial compensation in exchange for removal from the American blacklist of states supporting terrorism. However, Kenyan victims have not benefited from this compensation and continue to fight for justice.
Many victims of the attacks of August 7, 1998 deplore the fact that their suffering is not recognized in the same way as that of the American victims. Medical costs remain, lives have been disrupted and trauma continues. A sense of injustice persists, fueling the Kenyan victims’ strong determination to obtain fair compensation.
Conclusion:
Twenty-five years after the attacks on American embassies in East Africa, the quest for compensation for victims remains an unfinished battle. Despite the compensation awarded to American victims and citizens of the countries involved, Kenyan victims continue to fight to have their pain and losses recognized and compensated. A committee was created within the Kenyan Senate to support their request for compensation from the American authorities. Let us hope that this quest for justice will finally succeed and allow the victims to find some relief after so many years of suffering.