Unlikely Sites for Terrorist Attacks

WASHINGTON — The two African nations where U.S. embassies were bombed have had good relations with the United States and seemed unlikely places for terrorist attacks.

Kenya and Tanzania find themselves caught up in an investigation to determine the source and motivation for the dual bombings Friday that killed scores of people and injured more than 1,700.

Before the explosions, the State Department had issued largely routine advisories to Americans considering travel to either country, describing both as developing East African nations with pockets of instability, growing crime problems and dangerous roads.

The United States gives several million dollars in assistance to both countries, mostly to promote broad-based development, and U.S. corporations have an estimated $285-million investment in Kenya, where more than 6,000 Americans live. The Peace Corps has volunteers in both countries.

In Kenya, a country of 28 million, the State Department has noted some political and ethnic tensions associated with its transition to a multi-party democracy.

U.S. officials have been critical of abuses there, but President Clinton met Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi during his trip to Africa in March, and Moi joined six other African leaders in signing a commitment to respect human rights.

Still, the State Department has advised that political meetings and demonstrations in the country can be violent and Americans should take “basic security precautions to maximize their safety,” avoiding rallies and demonstrations.

It also warned of street crime against tourists in downtown Nairobi, Mombasa and at coastal beach resorts.

In Tanzania, which has a population of 29 million, U.S. officials have warned of past political tension and problems over Rwandan, Congolese and Burundian refugees in northwestern areas.

The State Department also has advised Americans that Tanzanian police and prison officials, especially in rural areas, have “consistently failed to inform the U.S. Embassy of the arrest or detention of American citizens.”

Relations between Kenya and Tanzania have improved since differences over trade and other issues resulted in closed borders in the late 1970s.

The State Department describes U.S. ties with both countries with the same word: cordial.

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Terrorist Activity by Region

Compared with most areas of the world, Africa has had relatively few terrorist attacks. Some Africa experts say they believe that Friday’s blasts were not the work of internal forces.

Number of Attacks

Africa

Asia

Eurasia

Europe: 272 (Note scale break)

Latin America

Middle East

North America