Iran’s Africa Fiasco
On February 16, the Nigerian Federal High Court in Lagos began the prosecution of an alleged member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Azim Aghajani, and a Nigerian associate, Usman Abbas Jega. They are accused of arms smuggling. This video link is in Arabic, but is very self-explanatory. It is of the opening day of the court proceedings.
The story is a classic, just one of many on the Dark Continent nowadays: In late October 2010, Nigerian intelligence officials discovered weapons in 13 shipping containers marked building materials in Lagos’ Apapa Port. Following an investigation, Nigerian agents learned that Iran was behind the shipment of arms. At first it was assumed that the shipment was going to the Gaza Strip, however further investigations revealed that the weapons were bound for Gambia under the supervision of a group of Nigerian officials.
The shipment had been organized through International Trade and General Construction, an IRGC front company. It was picked up from the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas by CMA CGM (a French shipping company) and transported to Nigeria.
After the discovery of the shipment, the Nigerian government reported Iran to the United Nations Security Council, and Gambia has cut all diplomatic ties with Tehran.
The Iranian regime now faces a diplomatic and strategic disaster, and they are trying desperately to restore at least some of their standing in Nigeria. The Iranian regime has offered the Nigerian government a bribe, and despite everything, the Nigerian government seems happy to accept it.
In a press conference in Abuja, Nigerian ambassador to Tehran Al-Haj Abubakr Chika told reporters that Iran has offered Nigeria a one billion dollar “loan” in order to help Nigeria with a trade and economic development project. Chika added: “This loan will strengthen and expand trade and economic relations between Iran and Nigeria.”
It was a great success for Nigerian diplomacy. Iran started with an offer of $150 million, which was quickly rejected. The final amount was more than six times the original offer, and Chika claimed that the new billion dollar loan was given at a 5% interest rate with an open-ended repayment period. There’s still more to come: Chika has proposed that, in order to facilitate Nigeria’s access to Iran’s financial sources, Tehran should begin establishing trade centers in Nigeria.
There is another important element in this story: weeks before the “sudden” discovery of the 13 containers, Iran secretly hung a Nigerian and a Ghanaian in the horrific Vakilabad prison in the city of Mash’had.
The two were arrested for drug trafficking, a no-no in Iran as that market is cornered by the Revolutionary Guards themselves. Paul Chindo, the Nigerian, was hung in early October and Akwasi Akuaba, the Ghanaian, in August.
Both the Nigerian and Ghanaian embassies in Tehran then formally demanded an explanation as to why the two Africans were executed without notifying their respective embassies, contrary to standard international practice.
Flashback to February 2008, when Iran’s muckraking in Bahrain had reached an all-time high — up to that point, anyhow. Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, one of Khamenei’s relic advisors, announced that Iran had sovereignty over Bahrain. In response, Morocco’s King Mohammed sent Bahraini King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa a message of support, calling the Iranian remarks “absurd” and a contradiction of international law. And then in March, Morocco cut all diplomatic ties with Tehran, closing the Moroccan embassy there.
Rabat also lambasted Iran for its efforts to spread Shi’ite fervor in Morocco, which it saw as threat to the North African country’s moderate Sunni religious identity. Sunni scholars in Morocco and elsewhere also denounced what they had begun to see as Iran’s efforts to convert Sunni Muslims to Shi’ism, arguing the drive would create strife similar to the often bloody Shi’ite-Sunni divides in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, all of which had been inflamed by Iran.
Things continued to boil under the surface as policy makers in the U.S. and Europe snoozed. Then in July 2010, after the world began to see the Iranian regime for what it is, Ahmadinejad traveled to Nigeria and Mali in an attempt to forge new alliances with African states, hoping to do damage control on Iran’s growing isolation.
So, it seems Iran is the New Cuba: exporting “revolution.” Like Cuba, a bad “revolution.”
I’m a little confused. Ten or fifteen years ago the Iranians had little foothold in any of the African nations you list. While fractious, they now are peddling Islam and terror (I know — a huge tautology) across the continent. Iranians are behind much of the upheavals buffeting African Arab regimes, yet you suggest that Iran is on the ropes. On the face of it, your analysis seems absurd. What am I missing???
I don’t think it’s absurd and neither do many other Iran watchers. I’m sorry you did not appreciate the points. For us Iranians who have watched Iran cozy up to many countries, ANY ally of theirs that abandons them is a triumph.
Now then, every single point I’ve made is quite factual and linked as you see. The Iranian regime is running around all over Africa, like a chicken with it’s head cut off to make sure that they can buy good will and yet people are either not willing to tow their line or are beginning to see other factors that is in reality undermining their own countries (i.e. Senegal & Gambia). Count the number of countries they started out with and the ones they still have and all the running around they are doing to do damage control. I don’t see Nigeria acting very friendly or trustworthy, no matter how much money Iran is willing to pay them to make up for their missteps. Also when Ghana is in the midst of very acrimonious issues with them, that Morocco has severed relations and much more…I’m not sure why this is so confusing. No one else found it all that confusing or pointless information!
By the way…10, 15 years ago Iran had plenty of foothold in Africa! Who said they didn’t? They were very well placed and connected in the Sudan, they had close ties in Uganda, Camaroon, Algeria, South Africa (where Mr. Mandella praised them and was very buddy buddy with them), Zimbabwe and Morocco was still friendly with them and so on. And they had begun expanding serious business deals in Nigeria…and especially in the north where there are plenty of Muslims.
“Both the Nigerian and Ghanaian embassies in Tehran then formally demanded an explanation as to why the two Africans were executed without notifying their respective embassies, contrary to standard international practice.”
Because “international practice” (and “law”) is bunch of hooey. At least Iran appears (and it’s only appearance) to treat drug dealers as they should be treated. In the USA we let drug dealers deal, serve time, repeat. Drug dealers should be treated as pirates: lawful for any citizen at any time to execute. Otherwise it’s “Mexico time” (see: “How Long Before U.S. Military Confrontation with Mexico Cartels?” at PJM.)
I said VERY specifically that the regime ITSELF is in fact the drug dealer and as a matter of fact, they are THE biggest heroin dealers in the world. IF the regime killed the Ghanian and Nigerian because they were drug dealers it is, again, as I very specifically pointed out, it’s because they were the IRGC’s competition. Please take the time to read the links.
It is shameful that free western countries can’t do what a third world African nation has done: Expelling the Iranian diplomats. Tough trade sanctions, expelling Iranian diplomats and ending all diplomatic contact may rejuvenate the defunct green movement once again.
To my eye, it is quite a well done piece; always, of course, the pretentiously jaded fault-finder must pop his head up, . . . and so early in the comments as his alarm clock will allow, . . .
You’re VERY kind. Thank you.
It was a great success for Nigerian diplomacy. Iran started with an offer of $150 million, which was quickly rejected.
I think I got the same email request.
Sounds like the same old successful methods they’ve used since the 7th century, one step backward and two steps forward. Their growing numbers prove the axiom of “where there’s a will there’s a way” anchored in “where there’s a mosque there’s a method”. Wherever they create chaos an eminent safe house seems to arise for the expansion of its tentacles.
Embassies arise by mutual agreement while mosques seem to come by demand prepaid by caliphate rule established in 650 Mecca for continuous agenda propaganda.
I’m afraid that’s not quite the correct conclusion to a very correct pattern. I’ve been very specific in explaining WHY it is not successful.
Fancy that, Africa has its finger on the pulse far more than the US.
African nations can see what Iran is but Obummer still has his eyes firmly shut. There must be a reason for this,and I don’t like it.
Thank you for the interesting article. With Obama acting as the ROTC dingbat in “Animal House” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPIq29ro), it’s good to get some real information on what’s going on with Iran and Africa.