FBI Adventure: Tanzania
FBI Adventure: Tanzania
U.S. Embassy Bombing
Briefing: The bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania on August 7, 1998 killed 11 people. More than 70 others, including two Americans, were wounded in the terrorist attack. The embassy building sustained extensive structural damage, but since it was located outside of the most crowded area in the city, there was relatively little destruction to other nearby buildings.
The FBI immediately went to East Africa to assist in the search, rescue, and investigative efforts. The exhaustive investigation of the crime scenes, in cooperation with the host countries, included over 1,000 interviews. This investigation was the largest overseas deployment of personnel in FBI history. The FBI named the investigation in Tanzania “Tanbom,” combining the words “Tanzania” and “bombing.”
Regional Facts
Geography:
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Area:
Total—947,300 sq km
Land—885,800 sq km
Water—61,500 sq km
Comparative—Slightly larger than twice the size of California. This includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar.
Climate: Varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in highlands.
Terrain: Plains along the coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south.
Elevation Extremes: Indian Ocean - O m; Kilimanjaro - 5,895 m (highest point in Africa).
Population: 49,639,138 (July 2014 estimate)
Nationality: Tanzanian
Languages: Kishwahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
Government:
Country name: United Republic of Tanzania (long form)
Former Name: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Type: Republic
Capital: Dar es Salaam; a new capital is planned in Dodoma
Independence: April 26, 1964; Tanganyika became independent on December 9, 1961 (from U.K. administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent on December 10, 1963 (from U.K.); Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on April 26, 1964. Renamed the United Republic of Tanzania on October 29, 1964.
Flag: Divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue.
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Map of the Region
Map Courtesy of CIA World Factbook
Mission Status
To date, more than 20 people have been charged in connection with the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Several of these individuals—including Osama bin Laden—have been killed. Six are serving life sentences in U.S. prison, and a few others are awaiting trial.
The investigation continues because a few of the defendants have not been captured. There is a significant reward for information leading to the apprehension and prosecution of these fugitives.