Africa Defense Forum
ADF is a professional military magazine published quarterly by U.S. Africa Command to provide an international forum for African security professionals. ADF covers topics such as counter terrorism strategies, security and defense operations, transnational crime, and all other issues affecting peace, stability, and good governance on the African continent.

Kenyan Mall Reopens Nearly 2 Years After Attack

The Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, where 67 people were killed in an attack by al-Shabaab militants, has reopened.

Gunmen entered the Kenyan mall in September 2013 and fired on shoppers, leading to a four-day siege. As of mid-July 2015, about half the shops were opening again after an extensive refurbishment.

“Exactly 22 months ago we had one of the saddest days in Kenyan history,” Nairobi City County Gov. Evans Kidero said. “As a nation we cried, we mourned, but Westgate is back.”

Parts of the mall were badly damaged by fire and remained off-limits as journalists toured the building after the shops reopened. It was not clear whether those sections are reopening.

It was one of the boldest attempts by the armed militants to target foreign nationals as well as Kenyans, but mall management says security has been dramatically improved.

Two Kenyan children look out from an upper level in the reopened Westgate Shopping Mall in Kenya 22 months after a terrorist attack. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two Kenyan children look out from an upper level in the reopened Westgate Shopping Mall in Kenya 22 months after a terrorist attack. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
You might also like

Comments are closed.