Revealed: Why terror groups target Arusha

Arusha. The heart of Tanzania’s tourism industry was hit again on Monday, leaving eight people wounded—one seriously—in a bomb blast in a restaurant.  This raises two burning questions:  Why Arusha and who is behind these attacks?

It all started on May 5, last year, when a church congregation was bombed. Three worshippers died on the spot and scores were injured, some critically. The attack shocked the residents of the city and beyond and Tanzanians waited anxiously to see what the authorities were doing to catch the culprits.

 Arusha Regional Commissioner Magesa Mulongo described the incident as a terrorist attack and first reports suggested it was carried out by foreigners or hired locals.

 The dust had not settled when, slightly over a month later (June 15), a Chadema political rally ahead of the civic polls was bombed. Four people died and several were injured. No arrests have been made in connection with the grenade attack at the climax of the month-long election campaign at Soweto grounds.

When the opposition public rally was hit by deadly bomb blasts in 2013, politics overshadowed reality as both Chadema and the ruling CCM traded accusations.

Three people were killed and 60 wounded in June 2013 in Arusha when a grenade was hurled into a Chadema political rally.

Some Chadema leaders claimed they had video footage of the bombers.  In a swift response, though, the ruling party’s outspoken leaders claimed the opposition imported the bombs from China.

It was typical politics and politicking at the heart of a crucial issue—national security. A month earlier, 30 people were wounded when an improvised bomb exploded in a Catholic church in Arusha.

The church was bombed again in May last year but, this time, the accusations did not target opposition parties directly. But it was the attack at Olasiti Catholic church, which was to be inaugurated that day, that had many worried. More lives would have been lost had the blast gone off inside the church building.

 It remains unclear whether the Papal Nuncio Francisco Padilla, who was to grace the church opening, was the main target. But he and other officials were unhurt.

For weeks after, Christians in Arusha were worried about safety in  their prayer houses after the May 5 incident.

 The entire government—led by President Jakaya Kikwete, Vice President Mohamed Gharib Bilal and Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda—trooped to Arusha to assure the people that efforts were being made to nab the culprits or that a thorough investigation was underway to identify and bring to book those behind the assault on the church. Even more important was to assure Arusha residents of their security wherever they were.

There were numerous arrests, including that of some Arabs, along with a motorbike rider who was hired by the man who detonated the bombs. He was charged and the story is now history. No any major arrests followed.

Then came a series of deadly attacks, this time not targeting a public rally or a church but just a pub where men and women gathered  to drink beer, wine and cheap whisky. As usual, no arrest to speak of was made.

Significantly, the Kaloleni or Soweto grounds attack fuelled the antagonism between the government and Chadema and other opposition politicians. The latter had accused police of complicity and the law enforcers denied it vigorously.

 While ordinary residents of Arusha worried about their security in crowded areas following the two fatal attacks, the tourism industry was greatly perturbed by the situation.

 Stakeholders worried that the multi-million dollar industry would nose-dive should the attacks continue and that the news would spread like wild fire all over the world. Others went to the extent of accusing the government of not doing much to “protect” Arusha from the bombers who were out destroy tourism—one of the country’s economic pillars. 

 Come April 13, this year, scores of weekend revellers jammed Arusha Night Park, a popular watering hole.

 Many of them were watching the English Premier League matches at around 7.30pm when a blast went off, injuring 14 people. One of them died later in the hospital. Once again, the regional commissioner arrived promptly at the scene and said the blast came from a home-made bomb.

 The proprietor, Mr Joseph Karugendo, said he had no idea the motive behind the attack and pleaded with the authorities to help track down the culprits. Witnesses said the explosive may have been placed inside the crowded bar by a pretend customer who then left.  

Several people have been charged with the April attack at the bar, famous during the day for delicious meals and at night for drinks.  Some of the 16 suspects have been charged with the actual bombing while others have been charged with recruiting people to join or work at the behest of terror groups such as Al Qaeda.

 On July 3—just last week—Arusha witnessed another grenade attack when an explosive was hurled at the home of an Islamic preacher, injuring him and another person. On Monday came another deadly attack on another pub. This time around, police claimed to have arrested two suspects. No terror group has claimed responsibility in any of these attacks. Two major questions arise:  Why Arusha now and who is responsible?

In recent weeks, the UN warned that Al-Shabaab was planning major attacks in East Africa using local recruits in its bid to become a regional terror group rather than just a Somalia-based organisation.

But, the country’s top crime boss, Mr Isaiag Mngulu, says Arusha and Zanzibar are the main targets because the two towns are the favourite destinations of the Western tourists.

Arusha has been hit by bombs eight times in the past few months. Mr Mngulu says the Monday attack, at an upmarket Indian restaurant in the centre of the town that is popular with foreigners and wealthy Tanzanians, involved improvised explosive devices thrown through a window. Three women and five men were injured and one of the men had his leg amputated.

 What made last Monday’s attack different was that some of the injured were foreigners.  The restaurant attacked and the larger Gymkhana Club are frequented by foreigners, diplomats, international workers, the elite, business people, consultants and employees of international and regional organisations based here.  A media consultant based in Arusha has repeatedly warned that terrorists could be behind a string of attacks and that Arusha was targeted because it was an important economic zone for the country. The eye witness told The Citizen that the floor of the restaurant was covered in blood, with overturned chairs amid broken glass.