Recognizing the Sacrifice: 27 Years Later, the Fight for Justice Continues

On the morning of August 7, 1998, two nearly simultaneous truck bombs exploded outside the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The attacks, orchestrated by al-Qaeda under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, were a rebuke of the US presence in East Africa and the Middle East and signaled a turning point in international terrorism. 

The attacks were meticulously planned and executed and devastating in scope. Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured. Those who survived were forever changed by the death and destruction they witnessed that morning. The vast majority of victims were local citizens, embassy staff, and contractors, including both Americans and foreign nationals.  

Litigation for Justice Against Iran and Sudan 

In the years following the attacks, numerous investigations and court proceedings uncovered the broader network that enabled these attacks. U.S. federal courts found that both the Islamic Republic of Iran ("Iran") and Sudan provided key support to al-Qaeda. Iran, through its proxy Hezbollah, furnished explosives training and other direct assistance to al-Qaeda. Sudan gave al-Qaeda a safe haven in the years leading up to the attacks, as well as critical financial, military, and intelligence support. This broad and complex network was vital to al-Qaeda’s ability to carry out the embassy bombings. 

Following these findings, victims and their families pursued litigation against the Islamic Republic of Iran and Sudan in US courts. These claims were filed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), which allows for lawsuits against states designated as sponsors of terrorism. Iran declined to appear and was held liable in default, a pattern it has repeated over the years in hundreds of similar lawsuits. Sudan contested the claims but was ultimately found liable. The courts awarded billions of dollars in damages to victims and their families.  

In 2020, as part of an agreement to remove Sudan from the U.S.'s list of state sponsors of terrorism, the Sudanese government agreed to provide partial compensation to the victims of the 1998 embassy bombings. While the U.S. - Sudan claims resolution offered long-overdue relief to many of those most deeply affected, millions of dollars remain unpaid. The work of fully compensating the victims is far from over and will likely continue for many years to come. 

Fox McKenna PLLC is proud to represent many of the victims and their families in these cases. Advocating for the survivors and the legacies of the deceased has been an honor and a responsibility at the heart of our firm’s mission. 

Bearing Witness  

The East Africa embassy bombings forever altered the lives of thousands and was a devastating reminder of the global reach and consequences of terrorism. These attacks underscored the risks faced not only by U.S. diplomatic personnel, but also by the thousands of local civilians who work alongside them in service to shared goals and ideals. They revealed the extent to which those who associate with the United States—by employment, partnership, or even the simple act of seeking a visa—can become targets.

The victims of these attacks, many of whom received awards and distinctions for their valor in the aftermath, continue to seek justice through the courts decades later. The annual commemoration of these attacks honors not only the victims and survivors, but also a broader commitment to justice and the ongoing responsibility to confront and combat the conditions that made these attacks possible.