Terrorism is becoming common in Africa

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Acts of terrorism are gradually becoming a feature on the African continent ?
Acts of terrorism are gradually becoming a feature on the African continent ?
Acts of terrorism are gradually becoming a feature on the African continent  ?
Acts of terrorism are gradually becoming a feature on the African continent
?

The history of Africa as a whole and Ghana in particular is a unique one, with references to the power struggles on idealism and the occupation of rich resources and territories by colonialists.

In recent times, terrorism, which we all thought was so many miles away from us, is gradually becoming part of our history because of the activities of groups such as al-Shabab, al-Qaeda and the latest kid on the West African block, ?Boko Haram.

These are threatening security in an already troubled continent. According to a professor of history at the Oxford University, Hugh Trevor-Rogers, ?undergraduates, seduced by changes in journalistic fashion, demand to be taught the history of Black Africa. Perhaps in future, there may be some history to teach. At the moment, there is none. There is only the history of the white man in Africa. The rest is darkness and darkness is not the subject of history.?

This statement is particularly a caution to us as Africans because until we begin to learn to write our own history, the generations yet to be born will know no history but the history of terrorism in Africa.

?Terrorism

On August 7, 1998, two massive bombs exploded outside the US embassies in Dar es Salam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, killing 224 people and injuring 5000. On October 26, 2011 in Abuja, Nigeria, Boko Haram launched its first attack against a foreign target with a suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosives Device attack on the United Nations compound in Abuja.

The statistics on terrorism attacks in Africa indicate that Somalia recorded 1,013 deaths and Nigeria 590 deaths. In Nigeria, research indicates that a potent mix of communal tensions, radical Islamism, religious and ethnic tensions have made the country a fertile ground for breeding militancy.

There is also the threat of drug cartels and criminal syndicates in some states in West Africa. The latest move by Boko Haram this year is the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok. It sent shivers down the spine of most Africans and some concerned activists and personalities across the world, including the First lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama.

This incident has made Ghanaians, especially, feel the breeze of terrorism very close to their skins, with various feminist groups calling on the government to help Nigeria and to put in stringent measures to keep terrorists far away from us.

?Boko Haram

Boko Haram began as a group of young graduates from the northern part of Nigeria who felt cheated by state institutions and the government because of their inability to find decent jobs after the completion of their education, which is a genuine problem for the youth of northern Nigeria.

The challenge, however, is the negligence of the Nigerian government because they allowed this harmless group to degenerate into a terror group.

Boko Haram is tagged as an Islamist group. Ironically, Islam represents peace onto all mankind and education is one of the strong pillars of this religion. It is in this light that the Prophet Mohammed was commanded through Angel Gabriel to read; in order words acquire knowledge before he embarks on his journey of becoming a leader in the Islamic world.

The Almighty Allah in the Holy Quran commanded every Muslim to seek knowledge even if it means travelling beyond China. Therefore, the name ?Boko Haram,? which means book knowledge is forbidden, is a non starter in Islam. Borrowing the scientific terminology, it means that there is no correlation between the variables, Islam and terrorism. In other words, correlation is zero.

Islam and terrorism

In principle, the act by the actors of terrorism is contrary to the tenets of Islam but the fact is that these terrorists hide behind the cloak of Islam to perpetuate their dastardly acts against humanity.

These militants are only pushing a parochial and egoistic agenda using Islam because of its sensitive nature across the globe. It is, however, interesting to note that, according to the US National Counter terrorism Center report in 2012, ?Muslims continue to bear the brunt of terrorism, while attacks targeting Christians dropped nearly 45 per cent from a five-year high in 2010.?

?What most people fail to understand is that there is a difference between being born into Islam and given names such as Mohammed, Yusuf, Amina, and Ayesha for identity and actually practising and imbibing the principles of Islam.

Therefore, they live lives contrary to the teachings and tenets of Islam and more so, non-Muslims make the mistake of judging the Islamic religion by the character and lifestyle of Muslims, which is absolutely wrong. A true Muslim is one who loves and tolerates his fellow human being even in divergence, having in mind that it is only one God who created the Buddhist, the atheist, the traditionalist, the Christians and Muslims and, therefore, behoves us to live in peace with one another.

Anyone who calls himself a Muslim and believes in the act of violence and terrorism is not a Muslim but a terrorist. Such persons should be reported to the appropriate security agencies because they are a potential threat to peace and national security.

?Conclusion

In conclusion, the call is on President Mahama as the chairman of ECOWAS to exhibit leadership towards finding a lasting solution to this canker not only in West Africa but on the African continent as a whole. It is high time governments in Africa listened to the youth and provided them with entrepreneurial skills and decent jobs.

The youth also require re-orientation to put them in a better place of becoming youth for national and continental development and not youth for national and continental destruction.

As a youth myself, I realise that the adrenaline for survival in this era of economic hardships is very high. Money is said to be the root of all evil and the idle youth on the street is prepared to take up arms for monetary gains in the sense that these terrorist groups are highly sophisticated with huge financial muscles and are prepared to pay the radical youth of any country to achieve their aims.

As a matter of urgency, government must tackle the issue of employment with all the seriousness it deserves. Arise, ?the youth of Ghana, arise, the youth of Africa and say no to terrorism.

Article Asana Mohammed

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