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After more than 75 civilians were killed in Uganda last week, police in Kenya have announced the arrest of several men believed to be affiliated with a radical Somali organization that took credit for the massacre. The group, Al Shabab, has been linked to Al Qaeda. They announced responsibility soon after the double suicide bombing of a restaurant and rugby club in the Ugandan capital Kampala where patrons were viewing the World Cup Soccer final. The attacks were apparently in retaliation for Uganda’s troop presence in Somalia. This is the first time that Al Shabab has claimed responsibility for an attack outside Somali borders. Human Rights Watch released a statement urging the Ugandan government to protect local Somali refugees and Muslim communities against reprisals. The group has documented serious abuses by operatives of the Ugandan government against detainees who may be held for long periods without charge. In response to the attacks in Uganda, US President Obama promised to “redouble” the US’s support to African states in the so-called War on Terror. The President also alluded to Al Qaeda’s racism saying “they do not regard African life as valuable in and of itself.” He added “They see [Africa] as a potential place where you can carry out ideological battles that kill innocents, without regard to long-term consequences, for their short-term tactical gains.”

GUEST: Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action, co-chair of the Advocacy Network for Africa Forum

Find out more at www.africaaction.org.