MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the killing of students in Kenya by the terror group Al-Shabaab
27.4.2015 - (2015/2661(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Ignazio Corrao, Rolandas Paksas, Valentinas Mazuronis, Robert Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz on behalf of the EFDD Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0382/2015
B8‑0386/2015
European Parliament resolution on the killing of students in Kenya by the terror group Al‑Shabaab
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,
– having regard to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s statement of 2 April 2015,
– having regard to the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 3 April 2015 on the attack in Garissa, Kenya,
– having regard to the press statement of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 497th meeting held on 9 April 2015, on the terrorist attack perpetrated in Garissa, Kenya,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
– having regard to the UN Declaration of 1981 on the Elimination of All forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,
– having regard to the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights,
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on International Humanitarian Law,
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas armed gunmen attacked Garissa University College in Kenya on 2 April 2015, killing 147 innocent civilians; whereas Al-Shabaab, the armed Islamist group based in Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to journalists and posted a statement on its website;
B. whereas the attacks were perpetrated at Garissa University College, a constituent college of Moi University, which is situated in northern Kenya, a part of the country known to be vulnerable to Al Shabaab attacks;
C. whereas Al-Shabaab regularly recruits and uses children, and has attacked students, schools and other education facilities; whereas education is vital to the fight against violent extremism and fundamentalism;
D. whereas Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab has been responsible for scores of attacks in Somalia and surrounding countries, including neighbouring Kenya, in its bid to impose Islamist extremist ideals;
E. whereas on 25 March 2015, at least 15 people lost their lives in an attack perpetrated by Al-Shabaab in a Mogadishu hotel , and whereas Yusuf Mohamed Ismail Bari-Bari, Somalia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, was among those killed in the attack;
F. whereas Al-Shabaab is a banned terrorist group, which seeks the harsh enforcement of Sharia law in the areas under its control; whereas the group is believed to have as many as 9 000 fighters, including from neighbouring countries, as well as Europe and the United States; whereas Al-Shabaab has also set up a recruiting network in Kenya;
G. whereas Al-Shabaab has formed links with other Islamist groups in Africa, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; whereas it aims to create a fundamentalist Islamic state in Somalia; whereas it once held sway over Mogadishu and major portions of the Somali countryside;
H. whereas Al-Shabaab has benefited from several different sources of income over the years, including revenue from other terrorist groups, state sponsors, the Somali diaspora, charities, piracy, kidnapping, extortion of local businesses, illicit charcoal trading and sugar contraband;
I. whereas there are also regular gun and grenade attacks attributed to Al-Shabaab both in border areas, where many Kenyans are ethnic Somalis, and in Nairobi;
J. whereas the Garissa attack is yet another bloody example of violent extremists targeting the right of the people of Kenya to live in peace and security and enjoy freedom of religion;
K. whereas Al-Shabaab claims that the Garissa University attack was in revenge for Kenyan military atrocities in Somalia and Kenya against its own Muslim citizens and refugees; whereas Al-Shabaab has warned that more attacks will come unless Kenya withdraws its troops from Somalia;
L. whereas Kenya has threatened to close the Dadaab camps and send home more than 360 000 Somali refugees within 90 days;
M. whereas respect for human rights, the protection of the rights of children and young people and the strengthening of skills, education and innovation are an essential means of enhancing economic, social and cultural opportunities, enhancing the country’s development and strengthening a successful counter-terrorism policy;
1. Strongly condemns the attack by Al-Shabaab extremists on students at Garissa University on 2 April 2015 and expresses its sincere condolences to the victims of all the attacks committed by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab and to their families;
2. Condemns once more the raids conducted by Al-Shabaab during the summer of 2014 on several coastal Kenyan villages, including Mpeketoni, where 50 people were executed; condemns vigorously the foray in Westgate Shopping Centre in Nairobi on 24 September 2013, following which 67 dead bodies were found; condemns the Al-Shabaab attack of 25 march in Mogadishu, in which Ambassador Yusuf Mohamed Ismail Bari-Bari, Somalia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, lost his life;
3. Reaffirms that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever they are committed;
4. Calls for the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial and effective investigation in order to bring the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice;
5. Urges the Government of Kenya to act decisively and within the constitution and the law to ensure protection for those under, or at risk of, attack in Garissa and other areas of the north, and to take the necessary measures to protect students, college staff and other ordinary people;
6. Underlines the Kenyan Government’s responsibility to guarantee the human rights of all its citizens within the boundaries of the constitution and the law; calls on the Kenyan security forces to ensure a lawful response in order to counter the terrorist threat; calls on the Kenyan Government to ensure the security and protection of the refugee camps in its territory;
7. Offers its unwavering support to the people and government of Kenya in order to prevent, combat and counter terrorism and violent extremism in their country and the wider region;
8. Calls on the Government of Kenya, working with international and regional actors, to tackle this threat by adopting measures to improve the social and economic situation of its citizens; insists on a comprehensive approach towards anti-radicalisation and counter-terrorism which focuses on strengthening social cohesion and crime prevention; calls on the Kenyan authorities to step up their efforts to reduce poverty, offer employment prospects, especially for young people, and empower and respect the individual, so as to cut down at their roots grievances and frustrations that could potentially be exploited by violent extremists;
9. Is concerned that Al-Shabaab is targeting disillusioned young men in Kenya’s poorest neighbourhoods as part of a recruitment drive for its extremist cause;
10. Calls for the EU to develop its strategy for Kenya, with a clear focus on peace and security aspects, which are essential for the development and prosperity of Kenya;
11. Reminds the European External Action Service and the Member States of their commitment, under the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy adopted in June 2012, to ensure that human rights are raised in all forms of counter-terrorism dialogues with third countries;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service, the Vice-President of the European Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Government of Kenya, the Co-Presidents of the EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Pan-African Parliament.