Iran’s Africa Fiasco
Attending the July 4-8 Developing Eight (D8) summit in Abuja, Ahmadinejad rallied support for his show of resistance against growing U.S.-led international pressure. Ahmadinejad launched his Africa tour with a one-day visit to Bamako to meet with Malian leaders, and though Iranian-Malian relations were never very close, Ahmadinejad has worked at further developing ties with Mali in an effort to expand African outreach.
Of the approximately 14 million people of Mali, 90% are Muslims. And at least before September 11, 2001, Mali was considered a model African secular and democratic state. Since then, however, a persistent rise of Islamism has become a matter of serious concern.
Ahmadinejad and his cronies are eager to affiliate with and milk such potential, and are creating a support system there that could be transformed into an influential power base.
During that trip, Ahmadinejad also visited Zimbabwe and Uganda. Iran now has observer status in the African Union. In February 2010, Ahmadinejad visited Nairobi, Kenya and the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros with a trade delegation numbering nearly 100. While Ahmadinejad was in Nairobi, Iran and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding on water and oil and inaugurated a direct Kenya Airways flight between the two nations.
Iran’s interest in assisting African water extends to the Sudan, where the Iranian regime has offered technical and engineering products for Sudan’s water projects.
Iran and Sudan, which are both subject to U.S. economic sanctions, have been close allies for decades and have signed a number of economic and commercial cooperation agreements. In January 2007, the two governments signed a military cooperation agreement during a visit by Sudanese Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein to Iran.
In the volatile Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros, a presidential election just occurred. It is not clear as to where the new President Ikililou Dhoinine stands. However, prior to these elections, then-Comorian Vice President Eidi Nezam rallied for severing ties with Iran. Fratmat reported of discord between the Comoran President Sambi — known as “The Ayatollah” — and his VP Eidi Nezam over relations and cooperation with Iran. Iran has been making noise about developing relations with Sambi, and though Sambi had clearly stated that Comoros is not ready for Islamic revolution, Nezam alleged that Sambi (who despite his Sunni background was trained in Qom by Mesbah Yazdi) is handing their country over to the Shi’ites.
So in February 2009, which took Ahmadinejad to not only Comoros, but also Djibouti and Kenya, Ahmadinejad mentioned that expansion of Tehran’s relations with African countries is a “priority for Iran’s foreign policy.”
In late February, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, with a media delegation on a tour of Africa which was designed for public relations and media troubleshooting. They also traveled to Kenya and South Africa.
The regime-run Fars News Agency wrote: “Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union’s strategic partners.” But it is not so. On February 23, the Senegalese government announced that it was severing ties with Iran because Iranian weapons were used in Sunday’s attack by rebels of the Democratic Forces of Casamance that killed three Senegalese soldiers and wounded several others.
Iranian-African relations are now so bad that they are frequently front-page news all over the continent, and the feverish Iranian damage control seems not to have had much effect. Indeed, things keep getting worse.
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.