25 Years after September 11: Lessons for Americans and Africans

On September 11, 2001, a series of terrorist attacks occurred in the United States, resulting in the tragic loss of nearly three thousand lives. These attacks were carried out by the radical jihadist group Al-Qaeda, with late Osama Bin Laden as the driving force. The attacks not only affected Americans but also had devastating consequences for people from almost 20 countries, including Africans.

In 1998, a bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya claimed 207 lives, while a smaller blast in Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, killed 11 Africans. The mastermind behind these attacks, Bin Laden, initially found refuge in Sudan before moving to Afghanistan, where he established his primary operational base under Taliban rule. Despite the devastating consequences of these attacks, the Taliban has since regained power, showing no signs of giving up.

In the years following the 2001 attacks, radical jihadist movements and violence have continued to escalate across the Middle East, Nigeria, and the Sahel belt of Africa. Terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and the al-Shabab have caused immense suffering in various African countries, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 million Africans since the end of colonialism.

African governments must take a more decisive and unwavering approach to combat terrorism and protect the lives and property of their citizens.