Togo national football team attack
Encyclopedia
The Togo national football team bus attack was a terrorist attack on the team bus of the Togo national football team
that occurred on 8 January 2010 as the team traveled through the Angola
n province of Cabinda
on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which began on 10 January. A little-known offshoot of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda
(FLEC), a group promoting independence for the province of Cabinda, known as the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda - Military Position (FLEC-PM), claimed responsibility for the attack. Bus driver Mário Adjoua, the team's assistant manager Abalo Amelete, and media officer Stanislas Ocloo were killed, with several others injured. Secretary General of the FLEC-PM Rodrigues Mingas
, currently exiled in France, claimed the attack was not aimed at the Togolese players but at the Angolan forces at the head of the convoy. Authorities reported two suspects were detained in connection with the attacks.
On 8 January 2010, the Togo
national team bus was attacked by gunmen as it traveled through the Angolan province of Cabinda for the Africa Cup of Nations. The bus came under machine gun fire just after it had crossed the border from the Republic of the Congo
into the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda. All of Togo's initial Group B games were to take place in the Estádio Nacional do Chiazi stadium in Cabinda.
According to rebel leader Mingas, the attack was carried out by his Commander Sametonne who claimed 15 FLEC fighters participated in the ambush. The siege lasted for at least 30 minutes. The bus driver, Mário Adjoua, was killed, cutting off all possible means of escape. The passengers hid beneath the seats. A security team of around 10 men in two cars travelling with the team returned the attackers' fire.
FC Vaslui
defender Serge Akakpo
was badly wounded by bullets and lost blood, as was goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilalé
. Alongside both players, Vice-President Gabriel Ameyi of the Fédération Togolaise de Football
and seven members including a journalist and two team doctors were wounded. Emmanuel Adebayor
said the attack was, "one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life." He had to carry his screaming teammates into the hospital as he was one of those least affected. Thomas Dossevi
said, "It was a real hell. Twenty minutes of shots, of blood and fear," and Richmond Forson
said, "The bus carrying the luggage was riddled. Maybe they thought we were there. Then they opened fire, even against our coaches. It was terrible." Dossevi said the team was "machine-gunned, like dogs."
The Angolan separatist guerrilla group Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda
(FLEC) has claimed responsibility for the attack. A statement signed by FLEC's secretary general Rodrigues Mingas said, "This operation is just the start of a series of planned actions that will continue to take place in the whole territory of Cabinda." French Foreign Ministry
spokesperson, Bernard Valero said that "inciting violence is totally unacceptable" and Mingas could be prosecuted under French laws for making such statements.
A larger offshoot group known as Armed Forces of Cabinda
(FLEC-FAC) also claimed the responsibility. The leader of the group Jean-Claude N'Zita dismissed Mingas' faction as opportunist.
Dead
Wounded
Angola arrested four men - Raul Tati, a priest, Francisco Luemba, a lawyer, Belchior Tati, an economist and Jose Benjamin Fuca, a former police officer - who had documents about Flec and had travelled to Paris for meetings with exiled leaders. In August, they were jailed for links to FLEC-PM. A court in Cabinda found the four guilty of crimes against state security; although the judge did not say whether the four had direct links to the attack. Their prison sentences ranged from three to five years. On January 11, two FLEC operatives were arrested near the site of the shooting.
The trial was criticised by human rights
groups that accused the government of using the attacks to justify a crackdown on critics. Martinho Nombo, a lawyer taking part in the court hearings, said the judge convicted them only because they had spoken or written about independence for Cabinda. "This is unconstitutional. A judge cannot jail someone for nothing. This will only worsen Angola's poor record on human rights and the whole peace process with FLEC. The supposed link was implied rather than stated. They were convicted on the basis of those documents." Human Rights Watch
also criticised the conviction calling the four "activists" and saying "This is clearly a lost opportunity to restore justice in Angola, and particularly in Cabinda."http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/20108315102504923.html
and Thomas Dossevi spoke of their disgust and their lack of desire to compete following their experience. Togo's national football squad subsequently withdrew from the tournament. Togolese midfielder Alaixys Romao
said the team was also trying to persuade the other teams in their group to pull out of the competition. After seeing the aftermath of the attack, members of the Mozambique national team
flying into Luanda asked for assurances of protection.
Togo was due to play its first game of the tournament against Ghana
, three days after the attack on 11 January 2010. STV Sport reported that Togo pulled out of the tournament a day later.
Later there was something of a reversal as two of the Togolese players said they would play in the African Nations Cup in "memory of the dead." Thomas Dossevi
, one of the Togolese players, announced that Togo would compete "to show our national colours, our values and that we are men." The Togolese government, however, subsequently ordered the team to return home after all, on grounds of security.
The Organising Committee of the Africa Cup in Angola
(COCAN) has raised serious allegations against the Togolese delegation; Virgilio Santos, a member of the Organisation Committee, said, "The rules were clear: No team should arrive by bus. I do not know what has led Togo to do it anyway."
On 11 January 2010, Togo was officially disqualified from the Africa Cup upon their return to their homeland. The Togolese team had left on Sunday, two days after the attack on the team bus. "The team is disqualified, this group will consist of three teams", said a spokesman for the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). According to Togo Sports Minister, Christophe Padumhokou Tchao, Togo's official request to re-join the tournament was denied despite the reasoning to mourn the fallen members of the team.
called it an "act of terrorism", and stepped up security at the tournament. Martin O'Neill
, manager of player Moustapha Salifou
at Aston Villa
, expressed his shock on the club's website. Manchester City
and Portsmouth
football clubs expressed concerns over the safety of their players. Players from other teams in Africa, such as Benni McCarthy
and Momo Sissoko
, condemned the attack.
Danny Jordaan
, organiser of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
which was played in South Africa
in June and July 2010, dismissed concerns that the attack had any relevance to the security arrangements for the World Cup.
Togolese Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo
ordered a three-day period of national mourning. "The government has opted for a prolonged nationwide three days of mourning period, which will begin on Monday 11 January 2010," Houngbo said on state television.
On 12 April, Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor
announced his retirement from international football, stating that he was "still haunted by the events I witnessed on that horrible afternoon."
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
that occurred on 8 January 2010 as the team traveled through the Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n province of Cabinda
Cabinda (province)
Cabinda is an exclave and province of Angola, a status that has been disputed by many political organizations in the territory. The capital city is also called Cabinda. The province is divided into four municipalities - Belize, Buco Zau, Cabinda and Cacongo.Modern Cabinda is the result of a fusion...
on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which began on 10 January. A little-known offshoot of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda
The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda is a guerrilla and political movement fighting for the independence of the Angolan province of Cabinda. Formerly under Portuguese administration, with the independence of Angola from Portugal in 1975, the territory became an exclave province...
(FLEC), a group promoting independence for the province of Cabinda, known as the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda - Military Position (FLEC-PM), claimed responsibility for the attack. Bus driver Mário Adjoua, the team's assistant manager Abalo Amelete, and media officer Stanislas Ocloo were killed, with several others injured. Secretary General of the FLEC-PM Rodrigues Mingas
Rodrigues Mingas
Rodrigues Mingas is the leader of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda , a guerrilla separatist organization fighting Last 1975 for the total independence of oil rich Angolan province of Cabinda, one of the country's 14 provinces rich with oil reserves.Mingas is believed to live...
, currently exiled in France, claimed the attack was not aimed at the Togolese players but at the Angolan forces at the head of the convoy. Authorities reported two suspects were detained in connection with the attacks.
Attack
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
national team bus was attacked by gunmen as it traveled through the Angolan province of Cabinda for the Africa Cup of Nations. The bus came under machine gun fire just after it had crossed the border from the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
into the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda. All of Togo's initial Group B games were to take place in the Estádio Nacional do Chiazi stadium in Cabinda.
According to rebel leader Mingas, the attack was carried out by his Commander Sametonne who claimed 15 FLEC fighters participated in the ambush. The siege lasted for at least 30 minutes. The bus driver, Mário Adjoua, was killed, cutting off all possible means of escape. The passengers hid beneath the seats. A security team of around 10 men in two cars travelling with the team returned the attackers' fire.
FC Vaslui
FC Vaslui
FC Vaslui is a professional football club from Vaslui, Romania. The club plays in Liga I and was founded in 2002. The best league finishes were achieved in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons, when they managed to end up third. Since foundation, they finished each season in a higher rank than in the...
defender Serge Akakpo
Serge Akakpo
Serge Ognadon Akakpo is a Togolese footballer. He plays at centre back for NK CM Celje in the Slovenian First League.-Career:...
was badly wounded by bullets and lost blood, as was goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilalé
Kodjovi Obilale
Kodjovi Dodji Obilalé is a Togolese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He last played for French amateur club GSI Pontivy...
. Alongside both players, Vice-President Gabriel Ameyi of the Fédération Togolaise de Football
Fédération Togolaise de Football
The Fédération Togolaise de Football or FTF is the governing body of football in Togo. As of 2005 its president is Gabriel Komla K. Mawulawoe AMEYI...
and seven members including a journalist and two team doctors were wounded. Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
said the attack was, "one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life." He had to carry his screaming teammates into the hospital as he was one of those least affected. Thomas Dossevi
Thomas Dossevi
Thomas Dossevi is a French-born Togolese football striker who is currently a free agent having left his last club Swindon Town in April 2011....
said, "It was a real hell. Twenty minutes of shots, of blood and fear," and Richmond Forson
Richmond Forson
Richmond Forson is a naturalized Togolese football midfielder, who plays for Chauvigny in the Championnat de France amateur 2.-Career:...
said, "The bus carrying the luggage was riddled. Maybe they thought we were there. Then they opened fire, even against our coaches. It was terrible." Dossevi said the team was "machine-gunned, like dogs."
The Angolan separatist guerrilla group Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda
The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda is a guerrilla and political movement fighting for the independence of the Angolan province of Cabinda. Formerly under Portuguese administration, with the independence of Angola from Portugal in 1975, the territory became an exclave province...
(FLEC) has claimed responsibility for the attack. A statement signed by FLEC's secretary general Rodrigues Mingas said, "This operation is just the start of a series of planned actions that will continue to take place in the whole territory of Cabinda." French Foreign Ministry
Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
spokesperson, Bernard Valero said that "inciting violence is totally unacceptable" and Mingas could be prosecuted under French laws for making such statements.
A larger offshoot group known as Armed Forces of Cabinda
Forças Armadas de Cabinda
The Forças Armadas de Cabinda or Armed Forces of Cabinda is the armed wing of the political Cabindan nationalist group the Frente para a Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda ....
(FLEC-FAC) also claimed the responsibility. The leader of the group Jean-Claude N'Zita dismissed Mingas' faction as opportunist.
Victims
Three people were killed and nine injured.Dead
- Améleté AbaloAméleté AbaloAméleté Abalo was the assistant coach of Togo national football team and manager of ASKO Kara. He was killed in the Togo national football team bus attack by the terrorist group Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda when travelling to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.-References:...
– Assistant coach of the Togo national football team and manager of ASKO KaraASKO KaraASKO Kara is a Togolese football club based in Kara. They play in the top division in Togolese football.-History:The manager Améleté Abalo was shot dead on 8 January 2010 in a terrorist attack against the Togo national football team.-Achievements:...
(died on 9 January 2010, 4:00 West Africa Time) - Stan Ocloo – press officer (died on 9 January 2010, 4:30 West Africa Time)
- Mário Adjoua – AngolaAngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n-born bus driver (died on 8 January 2010)
Wounded
- Kodjovi ObilaléKodjovi ObilaleKodjovi Dodji Obilalé is a Togolese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He last played for French amateur club GSI Pontivy...
- was shot in the lower back. The bullet split into several pieces making its way into his stomach. The goalkeeper's condition reportedly stabilised as of January 11. South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n doctors suggested leaving bullet fragments in his stomach since the operation to remove them would possibly cause more damage. - Serge AkakpoSerge AkakpoSerge Ognadon Akakpo is a Togolese footballer. He plays at centre back for NK CM Celje in the Slovenian First League.-Career:...
- Hubert VeludHubert VeludHubert Velud is a French football manager and former player.-Coaching career:He coached Châlons-sur-Marne, Gap, Paris FC, Gazélec Ajaccio, Clermont, Cherbourg, Créteil, Toulon, Beauvais...
- Waké Nibombé
- Elista Kodjo Lano
- Divinelae Amevor - physiotherapist
- Tadafame Wadja - doctor
Investigation
In connection with the deadly attack on the Togolese national football team, the Angolan police have arrested two suspects on 10 January 2010. As the national radio reported, citing the prosecutor, the arrests were made in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, located between the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in West Africa. A total of 9 suspects were arrested.Angola arrested four men - Raul Tati, a priest, Francisco Luemba, a lawyer, Belchior Tati, an economist and Jose Benjamin Fuca, a former police officer - who had documents about Flec and had travelled to Paris for meetings with exiled leaders. In August, they were jailed for links to FLEC-PM. A court in Cabinda found the four guilty of crimes against state security; although the judge did not say whether the four had direct links to the attack. Their prison sentences ranged from three to five years. On January 11, two FLEC operatives were arrested near the site of the shooting.
The trial was criticised by human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups that accused the government of using the attacks to justify a crackdown on critics. Martinho Nombo, a lawyer taking part in the court hearings, said the judge convicted them only because they had spoken or written about independence for Cabinda. "This is unconstitutional. A judge cannot jail someone for nothing. This will only worsen Angola's poor record on human rights and the whole peace process with FLEC. The supposed link was implied rather than stated. They were convicted on the basis of those documents." Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
also criticised the conviction calling the four "activists" and saying "This is clearly a lost opportunity to restore justice in Angola, and particularly in Cabinda."http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/20108315102504923.html
Aftermath
The Togolese team called for a boycott of the competition as a result of the attack. Alaixys RomaoAlaixys Romao
Jacques Alaixys Romao is a French-born Togolese football midfielder, who plays for Lorient in the Ligue 1.-International:...
and Thomas Dossevi spoke of their disgust and their lack of desire to compete following their experience. Togo's national football squad subsequently withdrew from the tournament. Togolese midfielder Alaixys Romao
Alaixys Romao
Jacques Alaixys Romao is a French-born Togolese football midfielder, who plays for Lorient in the Ligue 1.-International:...
said the team was also trying to persuade the other teams in their group to pull out of the competition. After seeing the aftermath of the attack, members of the Mozambique national team
Mozambique national football team
The Mozambique national football team , popularly known as Os Mambas, represents Mozambique in association football and is controlled by the Federação Moçambicana de Futebol, the governing body for football in Mozambique...
flying into Luanda asked for assurances of protection.
Togo was due to play its first game of the tournament against Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
, three days after the attack on 11 January 2010. STV Sport reported that Togo pulled out of the tournament a day later.
Later there was something of a reversal as two of the Togolese players said they would play in the African Nations Cup in "memory of the dead." Thomas Dossevi
Thomas Dossevi
Thomas Dossevi is a French-born Togolese football striker who is currently a free agent having left his last club Swindon Town in April 2011....
, one of the Togolese players, announced that Togo would compete "to show our national colours, our values and that we are men." The Togolese government, however, subsequently ordered the team to return home after all, on grounds of security.
The Organising Committee of the Africa Cup in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
(COCAN) has raised serious allegations against the Togolese delegation; Virgilio Santos, a member of the Organisation Committee, said, "The rules were clear: No team should arrive by bus. I do not know what has led Togo to do it anyway."
On 11 January 2010, Togo was officially disqualified from the Africa Cup upon their return to their homeland. The Togolese team had left on Sunday, two days after the attack on the team bus. "The team is disqualified, this group will consist of three teams", said a spokesman for the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). According to Togo Sports Minister, Christophe Padumhokou Tchao, Togo's official request to re-join the tournament was denied despite the reasoning to mourn the fallen members of the team.
Reactions
Angolan government minister António Bento BembeAntónio Bento Bembe
António Bento Bembe is the famous Secretary-General of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda, a Oficial General of Angolan Army, a minister without portfolio in the Angolan government, between 2007-2009, Nowday a , has served as the President of the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue ...
called it an "act of terrorism", and stepped up security at the tournament. Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
, manager of player Moustapha Salifou
Moustapha Salifou
Moustapha Salifou is a Togolese footballer who plays as a midfielder for 1. FC Saarbrücken in Germany's 3rd Liga. He is notable for spending time in England with Aston Villa...
at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, expressed his shock on the club's website. Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
football clubs expressed concerns over the safety of their players. Players from other teams in Africa, such as Benni McCarthy
Benni McCarthy
Benedict Saul "Benni" McCarthy is a South African footballer who is currently contracted to Orlando Pirates in South Africa.McCarthy holds the record of international goals for a South African...
and Momo Sissoko
Mohamed Sissoko
Mohamed Lamine Sissoko Gillan is a French-born Malian footballer who is currently playing for the French Ligue 1 team Paris-Saint Germain and the Malian national team. Although he could have elected to play for France internationally, he chose to play for the country of his descent, Mali...
, condemned the attack.
Danny Jordaan
Danny Jordaan
Daniel Alexander "Danny" Jordaan is a South African sports administrator as well as a former lecturer, politician and anti-apartheid activist. He led South Africa's successful 2010 FIFA World Cup bid, the first successful one for Africa. He also led their unsuccessful bid four years earlier for...
, organiser of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
which was played in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in June and July 2010, dismissed concerns that the attack had any relevance to the security arrangements for the World Cup.
Togolese Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo
Gilbert Houngbo
Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo is the Prime Minister of Togo since 8 September 2008.-Education and career at the UN:Houngbo holds an advanced degree in business management from the University of Lomé in Togo, as well as a degree in accounting and finance from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in...
ordered a three-day period of national mourning. "The government has opted for a prolonged nationwide three days of mourning period, which will begin on Monday 11 January 2010," Houngbo said on state television.
On 12 April, Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
announced his retirement from international football, stating that he was "still haunted by the events I witnessed on that horrible afternoon."
See also
- List of terrorist incidents, 2010
- 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket teamThe Sri Lankan cricket team attack occurred on March 3, 2009, when a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, part of a larger convoy, was fired upon by 12 gunmen, near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. The cricketers were on their way to play the third day of the second Test against the...
- Munich massacreMunich massacreThe Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...