MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the killing of students in Kenya by the terror group al-Shabaab

27.4.2015 - (2015/2661(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Geoffrey Van Orden, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Ryszard Czarnecki, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Angel Dzhambazki, Beatrix von Storch, Ruža Tomašić, Branislav Škripek, Anna Elżbieta Fotyga, Jana Žitňanská on behalf of the ECR Group

B8‑0383/2015

European Parliament resolution on the killing of students in Kenya by the terror group al-Shabaab

(2015/2661(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to the statement by the HR/VP of 3 April 2015 on the attack in Garissa, Kenya;

–       having regard to the conclusions of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Lübeck, Germany, of 15 April 2015;

–       having regard to the objectives of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA);

–       having regard to the conclusions of the Somalia New Deal conference, held in Brussels in September 2013,

–       having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.     whereas the European Union and Kenya have a long-standing relationship which seeks to promote the social and economic development of the country, and to enhance stability and peace in the wider region;

B.     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 and overthrow a government backed by western donors and African peacekeepers;

C.     whereas al-Shabaab once ruled much of Somalia but has been driven out of major strongholds in military offensives launched last year by the army and African Union peacekeepers; whereas despite this, al-Shabaab remains a potent threat to peace and stability in the wider region;

D.     whereas al-Shabaab is a banned terrorist group which seeks the harsh enforcement of Sharia law in the areas under its control; whereas it 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, especially around the port city of Mombasa, which has a large Muslim population;

E.     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;

F.     whereas efforts to reinforce stability and development in Kenya are being undermined by the attack on Garissa University on 2 April 2015 in which 147 students were killed and scores injured, and by previous attacks by extremist groups on innocent civilians in Kenya; whereas the militants separated students by religion, allowing Muslims to leave and killing Christians or keeping them hostage;

G.     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;

H.     whereas the Garissa attack is yet another bloody example of violent extremists targeting the rights of the people of Kenya to live in peace, security, and freedom of religion;

I.      whereas the African Peace and Security Architecture commits signatories to embracing a comprehensive package of measures for peace and security, including early warning and conflict prevention, peace building and post-conflict measures, the promotion and protection of human rights and democratic practices, and humanitarian aid and disaster management;

1.      Deplores the attack by al-Shabaab extremists on students at Garissa University on 2 April 2015 and offers its condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and injured; deplores in addition the actions of the extremists by which their victims were chosen on religious grounds;

2.      Believes such barbarism has no place in civil society and is committed to standing alongside all those committed to fighting terrorism, extremism, and religious hatred;

3.      Believes the Garissa attack is another attempt by al-Shabaab to provoke division between different faiths in Kenya, to undermine stability and economic growth in Kenya, and opportunity for its people;

4.      Offers its unwavering support to the people and government of Kenya in their efforts to combat terrorism in their country and the wider region, and in their efforts to bring to justice all those responsible for such acts;

5.      Supports the objects of the African Peace and Security Architecture and welcomes the progress made to date in enhancing the capacity of the African Union and regional organisations to prevent and manage crises on the continent;

6.      Continues to support AMISOM, its troop contributors and the Somali Government in their fight against al Shabaab and their efforts to enhance security in Somalia and the wider region; reinforces moreover the necessity to keep up the momentum in the creation of functional and viable Somali National Security Forces;

7.      Is concerned that al-Shabaab is targeting disillusioned young men in Kenya’s poorest neighbourhoods as part of a recruitment drive to its extremist cause;

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;

9.      Supports Kenya’s counter-terrorism efforts and its government’’s right to defend its people from terrorism, but stresses that any such measures to do so must be conducted in accordance with respect for human rights and the rule of law;

10.    Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Government of Kenya, and the African Union.