News

World

Kenya Mall Shooting 

Former Stony Brook University writing instructor and internationally acclaimed poet Kofi Awoonor was among 68 people confirmed dead in the militants' attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. 
 Awoonor was in the capital city to participate in an arts and literature conference. The office of Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, confirmed his death Sunday. 
 Awoonor, 78, was shopping with his son in Westgate Mall in Nairobi when Somali Islamist militants started throwing grenades and shooting shoppers, according to news reports. 
 He taught creative writing and African literature at Stony Brook for six years in the early to mid-1970s before taking a sabbatical to Cape Coast in Ghana in 1975, according to Newsday reports. 
 Ghana's government at the time arrested him, saying he was harboring a childhood friend turned political fugitive one month after he returned to his native country. He was sentenced to one year in jail. 
 His Long Island colleagues learned of his incarceration two months later through smuggled letters and poems, according to Newsday reports at the time. 
 Awoonor was jailed because he was outspoken and critical of the Ghanaian government at the time, said Arthur Dobrin, co-founder of Amnesty International's Long Island chapter, which worked toward Awoonor's release for 10 months until the government freed him. 
 "We were trying to secure his release from prison," Dobrin said. "We adopted the case, generating as much publicity as we could." 
 At one point, more than 50 Stony Brook students protested outside the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Newsday reported. The Stony Brook education department and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Louis Simpson, who also taught at the university, sent petitions calling for his release. 
 Stony Brook officials who knew Awoonor were not available for comment Sunday. 
 Dobrin said Awoonor was in Nairobi for the Storymoja Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts, an annual gathering of poets, musicians, filmmakers, writers and other artists. This year's theme was "Change the World," Dobrin said. 
 Festival organizers lamented Awoonor's death, saying in a statement on their website: "We were honoured to be graced by his appearance at Storymoja Hay Festival, and deeply humbled by his desire to impart knowledge to the young festival audience. Professor Awoonor was one of Africa's greatest voices and poets and will forever remain a beacon of knowledge and strength and hope." 
 Awoonor was Ghana's representative to the United Nations under the presidency of Jerry Rawlings from 1990 to 1994, and was also president of the Council of State -- an advisory body to the president -- under former president John Atta Mills, but stepped down earlier this year, Agence France-Presse reported. 
 CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled Arthur Dobrin's name.

LIAWOO23

Kofi Awoonor killed in Kenya mall attack, was Stony Brook professor

kofi awoonor - cropped

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Sunday denounced the attack on an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya, that left dead at least 68 people -- including a world-renowned Ghanaian poet -- and scores more injured.
"I condemn in the strongest terms yesterday's [Saturday's] terrorist attack at Nairobi's Westgate Mall," Ban said in a statement as delegations of diplomats from all over the world arrived in New York for the start of the UN General Assembly today. "This premeditated act, targeting defenseless civilians, is totally reprehensible. The perpetrators must be brought to justice as soon as possible."
The attack, which media reports said was carried out with grenades and assault rifles, is believed to have been orchestrated by al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked group that claimed it was retaliating for Kenyan forces' intervention in Somalia in 2011.
Some 68 people were confirmed dead, but Kenyan authorities said they rescued most hostages during a nighttime assault by the nation's defense forces, which regained control of most of the mall. At least 175 people, some children, were hurt when the al-Shabab militants stormed the mall.
"Today's terrorist massacre of so many innocents is a heartbreaking reminder that there exists unspeakable evil in our world, which can destroy life in a senseless instant," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, adding that the wife of a U.S. Agency for International Development worker also was killed. "I want to express my deepest condolences -- and the condolences of our entire nation -- to the families and friends of the victims in Nairobi today."
A former UN staffer and foreign nationals from Britain, France, Canada, India, South Africa and China also were killed.
"Nairobi is the United Nations' main headquarters in Africa, with a wide-ranging presence and hundreds of national and international staff," Ban said. "I am saddened to report that a retired staff member of UNICEF was among those killed in the attack. I offer my condolences to his family."
He added: "This is a time of shock for all Kenyans and all -- including the UN family -- who are proud to call Nairobi home. I express my solidarity with them at this moment of grief and loss."

WOBAN23

Kenya mall terror attack condemned by UN chief

APTOPIX Kenya Mall Attack--cropped

Kenya mall shooting 

Newsday

Kenya Mall Attack- cropped

Homepage Trending

Halloween events on LI

2026 LI Voters Guide

Wallet Watch

Working Moms

Most Popular

Latest videos

World video slot

Salvadorans on Long Island are preparing for the end of their Temporary Protected Status. The federal humanitarian program that allows immigrants to legally live and work in the United States, expires on Wednesday. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

'I never thought this would happen to them'

Aditi Patel of Old Westbury says her mother and mother-in-law, as well as a family friend, are among at least 90 Americans missing after the floods in Nepal and Tibet earlier this week, NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

'It's been the most devastating 48 hours, I think, of my life'

The latest developments in the war with Iran include the naming of Ayotollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as the country's late supreme leader and the continued rise of gas prices.

Iran developments: Gas prices soar as supreme leader named

Federal officers shot another person in Minneapolis amid an immigration crackdown, Minneapolis Gov. Tim Walz said.

The man was identified as Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse

Sign up for the Breaking News newsletter

World Newsletter Widget

Greek authorities said two American couples were staying at an Airbnb rental in the building that collapsed.

Former LI man among 4 Americans killed in Athens explosion

World Article Bottom Module

Here's video of the spacecraft rocketing above the region in the early morning darkness.

See it: SpaceX Falcon 9 puts on a show over Long Island

Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack American forces in the Middle East, the first indication that another major U.S. adversary is participating - even indirectly - in the war, according to three officials familiar with the intelligence.

Russia is providing Iran intelligence to target U.S. forces, officials say

An official says one passenger survived and at least 240 people have been killed in the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad.

Fiery Air India crash kills 241 people aboard, leaving 1 survivor, airline says

The funeral for Pope Francis was held in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Saturday.

Pope Francis' funeral

The first Latin American pontiff in history, who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives, has died.

Live updates: Impact of Pope Francis' death felt on LI, around the world

Mediators announced the ceasefire deal on Wednesday, which will pause the 15-month war in Gaza.

Deal promises release of hostages and prisoners

World Video Playlist

2026 has begun in other parts of the world. See celebrations from Hong Kong, Toyko, Bangkok and more locations.

Celebrations mark 2026 worldwide

State Republicans are fighting to scrap the even-year election law. Newsday columnist Joye Brown reports.

'We knew we had to take it to the federal option'

The House and Senate voted in favor of a bill to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

House and Senate vote to release Epstein files

The Justice Department says President Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of key figures allegedly involved in the plan to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Rudy Giuliani and others pardoned by Trump

Dick Cheney was one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history.

A two-term vice president under George W. Bush

On Monday, Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.

Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in Jamaica

On Tuesday, an immigration enforcement sweep targeting vendors on Manhattan's Canal Street turned chaotic when angry protestors surrounded federal agents and attempted to block them from driving off.

Angry crowds confront federal agents in Canal Street immigration sweep

The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on a Utah university campus. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

$100,000 reward for information

Donald Trump said the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel's effort to decapitate the country's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a long-time foe.

Trump says Iran's key nuclear sites 'completely and fully obliterated' by strikes

Tensions in Los Angeles escalated over the weekend as thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard.

Police and protesters clash outside federal detention center in LA after ICE raids

Americans could pay more for fresh vegetables and electronics as imports from Canada and Mexico will be taxed at 25% and Chinese imports at 20%. 

Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China take effect

The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting devolved into a tense back and forth between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had urged skepticism about Russia's commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow's years of broken commitments on the global stage.

Watch: Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance in Oval Office blowup

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

Make the jump to light speed on this week's LI Works. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa meets with a member of The 501st Legion, Empire City Garrison.

'You'd better be in character'

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed goes inside Critterville Farm Sanctuary to meet the rescued animals finding a second chance and the local passion that keeps it all going.

Out East: Critterville in Riverhead

Video of two Suffolk police officers joining a group of teens playing soccer goes viral. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

Chance encounter turns into viral video

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Co-Owner, Dough & Co. Pizza to try the Apple Bay Pizza, which is exclusive to their Oyster Bay location.

Trendy Bites: An apple pie ... pizza?

High school athletes striving to play sports in college might want to look at niche sports that give them a better chance. NewsdayTV's Jared Valluzzi reports.

Niche sports might get you a leg up to play at college level

Islandia village officials have cleared the path to build a mixed-use development with hundreds of housing units and 50 hotel rooms on 13 acres of vacant land near Jake's 58 casino. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Path cleared for 366-unit housing project near Jake's 58 casino

NewsdayTV's Carissa Kellman explores the historic and festive charm of Sleepy Hollow during a fall day trip.

A hauntingly good time in Sleepy Hollow

According to Babylon town tax documents, the proposed increase will cost the average household about $115 a year. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Proposed property tax hike in Babylon

NewsdayTV's Andi Berlin tried some new martini combinations at Beacon in Long Beach.

Design your own martini at this Long Beach speakeasy

Billy Joel will be auctioning off more than 70 motorcycles at Gooding Christie's in Manhattan next month. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger got a sneak peek at three.

A sneak peek of Billy Joel's motorcycles going to auction next month

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

Jor'Dynn Duncan investigation update ... Previewing the Knicks' big night ... New NUMC head of medicine ... LI Works: Explore dark side of Force with Ken

Most Popular

Latest videos

Stay logged in.