Nowadays the threat of terrorism is at an all time high. While some parts of the world, eg, Israel, Palestine and Iraq, are affected almost on a daily basis by acts of terror, the reality is that modern terrorists, in spite of the preventative efforts by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, have the network and capabilities to strike anywhere in the world as they deem necessary.
The risk of being involved in a terrorist attack in an African country is still very small, like most other risks of travel such as hijackings and natural disasters. However, there are countries that have already experienced serious acts of terror and are often listed by governments as potential targets for further attacks. These include Kenya, Tanzania and various North African countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. Algeria has experienced high levels of terrorism due to an on going conflict between the government and extremist groups opposing it. Foreigners have often been victimised.
Acts of terrorism
A number of terrorist attacks provide tragic evidence that the African continent also suffers from terrorism committed by both indigenous, insurgent groups that use terrorist tactics and international terrorist groups. Some of the worst terrorist attacks that were carried out in Africa include:
* The same-day bombing of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 that killed over 200 civilians.
* A suicide car-bomb against a synagogue in Djerba (Tunisia) in April 2002 that killed 18 European tourists and local Tunisians.
* Simultaneous attacks against a commercial airliner and a hotel in November 2002 in Mombasa (Kenya) that killed 17 Kenyans and Israelis.
* Suicide attacks in Casablanca (Morocco) in May 2003 against a restaurant and a hotel frequented by Westerners that killed over 40 civilians.
The threat ahead
Recent intelligence reports indicated that, in view of the fact that al Qaeda's terrorists have been losing sanctuaries elsewhere in the world, they may be looking to the deserts and jungles of Africa as a haven where terrorists could train recruits and plan new attacks. As an example, although Sudan entered into constructive dialogue with the African Union and other international bodies on counter-terrorism efforts, the reality is that its territory continued to be used as a safe haven by members of various groups, including al Qaeda, Egyptian al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, Egyptian and Palestine Islamic Jihad, and Hamas. Most groups used Sudan primarily as a secure base for assisting compatriots elsewhere. Furthermore, despite attempts on the part of most African governments and the African Union to enhance counter-terrorism efforts through a soon-to-be centre in Algiers, the reality is that conditions that make many countries in Africa desirable locations for terrorists still persist. These include a shortage of financial and technical resources, areas of instability and prolonged violence, corruption, weak judicial and financial regulatory systems, porous borders and unregulated coastlines facilitating the movement of persons and illicit goods.
Threat reduction strategies
The result of the above situation is that foreign businesses, expatriates and travellers can be potential victims of future terrorist attacks in Africa. This implies that companies and organisations should do their utmost to protect their human and material resources against the threat of terrorism.
Many terrorist attacks show that terrorists are prepared to strike at the least protected 'Western' interests. People travelling abroad need to be aware of the risk of indiscriminate attacks in public places. They should be vigilant, take the necessary precautions, be aware of local sensibilities, monitor the media and check travel advices for the country they live in or plan to visit.
Recent terrorist attacks on Westerners appear to have involved extensive planning and preparation and were likely preceded by extensive pre-attack surveillance. Often, this pre-attack surveillance can be detected.
Be aware of your surroundings. Take note of vehicles or individuals that do not appear to belong in the area and immediately report them to the authorities.
Vary your times and routes to and from destinations. Whenever possible, do not have a set day for shopping, errands and personal needs. Be unpredictable in your work and social schedules, unpredictable targets are hard targets.
Maintain a low personal profile by avoiding actions that may draw attention to yourself. Keep your colleagues and family aware of your daily plans and ensure that they know how to reach you.
If possible, do not schedule regular meetings at either the start or end of the day. Arrival and departure times from home to office can become unacceptably predictable if employees must schedule their commute around regularly scheduled meetings.
Choose restaurants that are recommended by the hotel or a trusted person, but keep away from sites frequented by police, military personnel or a noticeable presence of Westerners (often the preferred target for terrorists). Do not sit at sidewalk tables or near windows. Choose a table where you can easily view individuals entering the restaurant and be in a position to evacuate quickly if necessary.
Try to minimise the time spent in a public area of an airport, which is a less protected area. Proceed to the restricted area beyond passport control. On arrival, leave the airport as soon as possible.
Elio Zannoni is a specialist in crime risk factors and reduction strategies. He can be contacted at International Threat Analysis, a specialist, international risk consultancy involved in the intelligence, analysis and management of security related threats, on 083 460 5990 or e-mail ez@i-t-a.co.za
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