Paris Attacks: Africa expresses solidarity

Several African countries, some themselves hit by Islamist extremism, expressed their solidarity with France on Saturday after Paris attacks that killed at least 128 dead calling for strengthened cooperation against terrorism.

The strongest reactions came from Nigeria and Kenya, respectively victims of Somali Al Shabaab and terrorist group Boko Haram. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari "was shocked and deeply saddened to learn that innocent people were victims of heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks," reported a statement from his services.

Buhari "condemns the barbaric attacks that represent an unacceptable insult to all human values ??and standards of civilization." He called on "all peace-loving nations in the world to strengthen multilateral cooperation and collaboration at the level of action to quickly end the scourge of international terrorism." Nigeria faces six years armed Islamist Boko Haram, whose insurgency has left some 17,000 dead.

In Kenya, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said that "the people and the Government of Kenya stand by the side of France at this time when our common humanity was attacked." "The French have made famous calls of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, reflecting the common values ??that Kenyans share with them and are attacked by terrorists in Paris and across the world," said Mr Kenyatta.

"These enemies of humanity try to justify the murder of innocent people by a perverted faith, they reject the acceptance of the diversity of beliefs and cultures in a common humanity, preferring a close identification, intolerance and hate," he began.

Since his army entered Somalia in October 2011 to fight al-Shabaab, Kenya has been the scene of regular attacks, including the large-scale Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi (at least 67 dead), Lamu coastal region (a hundred deaths) and University of Garissa (148 dead).

Elsewhere in East Africa, Prime Minister of Mauritius, Aneerood Jugnauth, also condemned "the more severely as possible this terrorist act." "The fight against terrorism must continue," he told AFP, expressing his "solidarity with the French government and the French people."

In West Africa, Guinean President Alpha Conde "strongly condemns this heinous terrorist attack" and stressed that "our common membership in a struggle against terrorism must be constantly renewed and strengthened for the triumph of a world of peace, freedom and tolerance."

"Deeply shocked", Senegalese President Macky Sall expressed his "feelings of deep compassion and solidarity", condemning "these barbaric acts very strongly that the French people and beyond France, to our common humanity".

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita also condemned "with the utmost force the blind and hateful terrorism which struck France and expressed" solidarity and sympathy to President Francois Hollande and the French people who will defeat terrorism" in messages on Twitter.

Also on Twitter, the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo expressed "all (his) solidarity to the French people hit again by abject terror attacks." "Faced with the horror of these acts affecting France, it is all free people of the world who are affected," added the president of Gabon.