Mohamed Ahmed Abdi and Hassan Hussein Mustafa were found guilty for supporting the Westgate Mall terrorist attack in Kenya that led to the death of 71 people including renowned Ghanaian Professor, a poet and former Chairman of the Council of State, Kofi Awoonor.
The trial which started in January 2014 saw the Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi acquitting a third suspect.
According to the Chief Magistrate, the pattern of their communication betrays the fact that the two convicts may have been just friends with the attackers as they regularly communicating with the gunmen thereby giving them support for their endeavours.
“The pattern of their communication betrays the fact that they may have been just friends with the attackers”, Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi said.
The Attack
The Somalia-based Al Qaeda, Al Shabab group that claimed responsibility asserted that the attack was a revenge for Kenya’s decision to send troops to fight them in Somalia in 2011.
On Saturday, 21 September 2013, four masked gunmen attacked the mall resulting in the deaths of 71 people including, four attackers. About 19 foreigners of different nationalities died.
According to reports, about 175 people got wounded in the mass shooting. The attacked lasted several hours with the police responding after two hours. Some soldiers were caught on camera after the incident looting shops. Two of the soldiers were arrested and jailed for looting mobile phones.
The late Professor Kofi Awoonor
The late Professor Kofi Awoonor went to the Westgate Mall with his son Afetsi Awoonor to shop. Afesti narrowly escaped death though shot at the back but unfortunately lost his father. Professor Kofi Awoonor was a participant at the Storymoja Hay Festival. Professor Kofi Awoonor taught African literature at the University of Ghana.
Other renowned victims of the shooting mall incidents include Kenyan journalist Ruhila Adatia-Sood, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nephew Mbugua Mwangi and his fiancée Rosemary Wahito, as well as the Canadian diplomat Annemarie Desloges.
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Renate is a lawyer, publicist, and writer. She believes that education and information is the key to developing and shaping Africa. In her free time, she paints beautiful art pieces on canvas. Renate believes that life is a perception, and you live it the way you perceive it.
