African leaders have sent messages of support and condolences to France after the deadly terrorists attacks that left at least 128 people dead and 300 wounded.
“Deeply shocked, deeply angered by these attacks. Any place on earth that is hit, we feel for them. Kenya obviously has been a victim of terror attacks from time to time and we feel solidarity with France,” said Manoah Esipisu, spokesperson for Kenya‘s President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“We know very well and our condolences and sincere sympathies go to the families,” Said Oryem Okello, Uganda‘s acting foreign minister “We know exactly what they’re going through and we wish them all the very best, we stand by them in this challenging time.”
Uganda has also been a victim of attacks, notably the bombing of a bar in Kampala during the 2010 World Cup which left 74 dead.
Tanzania‘s foreign minister Bernard Membe said that he had “total disbelief” when he learnt about the attack on Friday evening.
“It was a great shock and we condemn this most strongly, send our messages to the bereaved families, that our prayers are with them,” said Membe. “These terrorist attacks should not discourage the French government or any other government from taking action.”
South Africa‘s government was also critical of the attacks.
“South Africa stands firmly with the rest of the international community in its condemnation of attacks targeting innocent civilians,” said Clayson Monyela, South Africa’s foreign affairs spokesman. “Terrorism in whatever form and from whatever quarter cannot be condoned.”
“This planned horror is a real crime against humanity,” Said Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Saturday in a message to French President Francois Hollande.
“Algeria strongly condemns these terrorist crimes, which attest, unfortunately once more, to the fact that terrorism is a cross-border scourge,” he added.
“President Buhari totally condemns the barbaric attacks which constitute an unacceptable affront to all human values and civilized norms. As a country which has borne the terrible human cost of terrorist attacks, Nigeria stands in full solidarity with the government and people of France as they mourn those who have sadly lost their lives in the attack on Paris” Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement
