Ramadan Archives - Jean-Jacques Cornish

Militants deployed by Khartoum junta drive Eid celebrants off the streets

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 22:00:00 +0000

With Sudanese celebrating the end of Ramadan, the streets of Khartoum are eerily quiet. Residents are afraid of going out and facing militants who have already killed more than 60 of them since Monday.

Eid Ul Fitr is a joyous holiday bringing celebrants out in their finery.

This year it has become a fearful stay-at-home event in Khartoum because the the military has sought to strengthen its hand after ousting President Omar Al Bashir in a coup two months ago by deploying former janjaweed militants to brutally disperse pro-democracy protestors.

Talks between the junta and civilian groups have broken down irretrievably after more 60 protestors were killed.

Russia and China have blocked a bid in the United Nations Security Council to condemn the violence.

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Second Mosque attack leaves three dead in Malmesbury, Western Cape

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 22:00:00 +0000

Two worshippers and their knife-wielding attacker have been killed in a Mosque in South Africa Western Province early yesterday (Thursday).

Several other people sustained stab wounds before police shot and killed their assailant.

This attack at the Malmesbury Mosque comes at the end of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan. In South Africa, Ramadan started with a worshipper being killed by having his throat slit at a Durban Mosque 1600 kms away.

Two other people were seriously injured in that attack.

Spokesman for the serious crimes investigation unit known as the Hawks Simphiwe Mhlongo says they’re treating that incident as a national security priority.

The Muslim Judicial Council says its deeply concerned that no arrests have been made and police appear to be no closer to finding the culprit.

The Shi’s Mosque was set alight after the attack and a bomb was found in the building three days later.

Western Cape Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut says Malmesbury police were called out to the Mosque in the early hours of the morning and found two people stabbed to death and several injured.

As happened in Durban, the attacker prayed with the people before turning on them were them.

Fellow worshippers in Malmesbury say their attacker was a Somali as was one of his victims.

Police approached him as he walked out of the Mosque after attempting to behead one of his victims who was an old man.

They shot and killed him when he refused to lay down his knife.

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Nothing to worry about says South Africa’s State Security Minister

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 22:00:00 +0000

Two days after the United States warned its citizens about the possibility of terrorist attacks in South Africa, Britain has sounded a similar cautionary note.

South Africa’s State Security Minister insists there is no cause for concern, but up-market shopping centers in Cape Town and Johannesburg,that both Washington and London say are the terrorists’ most likely targets have upped their level of vigilance.

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The British High Commission in Pretoria says its warning yesterday (Monday) updates a travel advisory last month stating that there’s a high threat of terrorsim in South Africa and attacks could be indiscriminate.

US Ambassador to Pretoria Patrick Gaspard says their warning of terror attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is based on verifiable information.

He’s happy with the level of cooperation he’s receiving from South African authorities to ensure the safety of both local citizens and Americans.

A travel advisory issued by the US last September warning of violent crime and terrorism in South Africa remains in force.

State Security Minister David Mahlobo says South Africa remains a strong and stable democratic country and there’s no immediate danger posed by the alert.

Acting National Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane says there’s no cause for concern about possible terror attacks. Police are monitoring intelligence flowing in and out of the country.

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