Tunisians react to bombings in Algeria and Morocco

15/04/2007

Recent bombings in Morocco and Algeria have left many wondering whether Tunisia could be next in line. Analysts, politicians, and other citizens voice their opinions.

By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 15/04/07

[Getty Images] Algerians inspect the Algiers government palace after the bombing last Wednesday.

The recent bombings that rocked Algeria and Morocco have provoked considerable uproar in neighbouring Tunisia, among people from every segment of society. Tunisians are still coming to terms with the fact that a group of Islamist extremists had taken up residence in the suburbs of Tunis. The clash with security forces that ensued in late December and early January left 12 terrorists dead, and remains fresh in people’s minds.

Following the attacks in Morocco and Algeria, analysts were intent on dispelling the likelihood that the operations would spread to Tunis, which has until now remained safe from any dramatic operations since the announcement of the creation of the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb. This was the view of Islamist groups expert Slaheddine Jourchi, who, in an interview with Magharebia, downplayed the likelihood that operations similar to those in Morocco and Algeria would take place in Tunisia. "Certainly what happened in Casablanca and Algiers will have a psychological impact in Tunisia," Jourchi said, adding, "The groups that carried out the attacks in Algeria on Wednesday morning belong to an organisation that has successful roots in spreading and expanding, and was thus able to train sleeper and non-sleeper cells, whereas, in Tunisia, the confrontations late last year revealed the security forces’ ability to abort the first armed movement, which kept the groups from spreading. I think repeating this attempt will require a long time."

Jourchi noted that what occurred in Morocco on Tuesday indicates that the armed groups there are going through a state of major confusion and disarray.

Journalist Asia Atrous wrote in Friday’s Assabah newspaper that, while the government may claim the attackers in Morocco and Algeria are unrelated, there are reasons to believe otherwise. "There is no doubt," she wrote, "that… terrorist threats over the past months invite raising anew many questions with more directness and accountability".

Atrous claimed that the "international situation" had some role in the turn of Maghreb youth towards violence, "but, in truth, there are other, local causes that have a role in this phenomenon." She cites poverty, unemployment, political and social marginalisation, the absence of mentoring, and the lack of responsible educational and religious dialog—not only within the educational establishment, but also within the family institution itself—as reasons young people may be particularly susceptible to manipulative propaganda from violent organisations.

Senator Samir Abdullah also dismissed the possibility of events in Algeria and Morocco being repeated in Tunisia. "Terrorism in Algeria can be attributed to internal causes and the settling of scores between conflicting powers," he told Magharebia. In Tunisia, according to Abdullah, "The middle class is very large, the regime was able to eliminate haphazard and marginalised neighbourhoods, and Tunisia is small and not mountainous. All of these factors protect the country from terrorist bombings." Nevertheless, Abdullah called on all Tunisians—the government and the people alike—to be vigilant in defending the country.

Journalist Sara Abdelmaksoud said she does not feel any fear after hearing of the terrorist bombings that took place in Morocco and Algeria. "I think the file was closed for us after the thwarting of the extremist group’s attempts in Tunisia at the beginning of the year, and I don’t think they will repeat it."

Housewife Amana al-Boughanmi was not so certain. "I felt much pain for what happened in Algeria, and I believe everything’s possible with these criminals. I don’t think they’ll leave us in peace here in Tunisia," she said.