From Ahmadinejad to Rouhani: Iran’s Presence in Africa

Zweiri, Mahjoob; Manjang, Alieu

doi:10.1007/978-981-15-3924-4_9

Mahjoob Zweiri⁴ &
Alieu Manjang⁵

Part of the book series: Contemporary Gulf Studies ((CGS))

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1 Citations

Abstract

This article explains the drivers behind Iran’s overtures to Africa, and the dynamics of its presence in the continent. Focusing on Senegal as a case study, this article contends that the compound international sanctions on Iran and the rise of Shiite power in the Middle East have decimated Tehran’s interests in building strong political and economic relations with African countries, irrespective of their religious and political identities, and in embarking on missionary work through public diplomacy strategies.

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Notes

1.
Bereke Selassie, “Conflict and Intervention in the Horn of Africa,” New York: Monthly Review Press, 1980, 129–133.
2.
Wai, “African–Arab Relations,” 195–198.
3.
Lefebvre, “Iran in the Horn of Africa,” 117–118.
4.
Hunter, “Iran’s Foreign Policy,” 255.
5.
Ibid.
6.
Borszik “International sanctions against Iran and Tehran’s responses,” 21–22.
7.
Laub, “International Sanctions on Iran.”
8.
Hunter, “Iran’s Foreign Policy,” 229.
9.
Ibid.
10.
Sidati,“Kāifā Tālćāb irān biāwrāqāhā,” 3.
11.
Hunter, “Iran’s Foreign Policy,” 299.
12.
Szrom, “Ahmadinejad in West Africa,” 2.
13.
Ibid.
14.
Hunter, “Iran’s Foreign Policy,” 228–229.
15.
Onderco, “South Africa’s Iran Policy,” 300–301.
16.
Katzman, “Iran’s Foreign and Defense Policies,” 7–10.
17.
Hawas, “Iran’s Africa Policy during Rouhani’s First Term.”
18.
Ibid.
19.
Zweiri, & König, “Are Shias Rising in the Western Part,” 513.
20.
Haji-Yousefi, “Whose Agenda Is Served,” 120–125.
21.
Ibid.
22.
Union of Muslim Scholars, “Ăltăŝāŷĭ fĭ āfrĭqĭyā:tāqrírí māíýdāné,” 122.
23.
Ibid.
24.
Zubaida, “Sectarian dimensions,” 318.
25.
Ibid.
26.
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, “Iran’s Activity in East Africa,” 19.
27.
Ibid.
28.
Ibid.
29.
Szrom, “Ahmadinejad in West Africa,” 14.
30.
Berman, “Iran’s various Voices.”
31.
“Senegal severs ties with Iran.”
32.
Szrom, “Ahmadinejad in West Africa,” 5.
33.
Lefebvre, “Iran in the Horn of Africa,” 128.
34.
Ibid.
35.
Ibid.
36.
Katzman, “Iran’s Foreign and Defense Policies.”
37.
Ibid.
38.
Ibid.
39.
Goodarzi, “Iran: Syria as the first line of defense,” 27.
40.
Al Qadhi, “Iranian Role in Yemen,” 24–24.
41.
Ashenafi “Gulf-Horn of Africa Geopolitics: The New Frontier.”
42.
Dorsey, “Gulf Crisis Extend to the Horn of Africa.”
43.
Ibid.
44.
Ibid.
45.
Katzman, “Iran’s Foreign and Defense Policies,” 56–57.
46.
Schraeder, “Senegal Foreign Policy,” 485–508.
47.
British Embassy Dakar, “Doing Business in Senegal,” 1.
48.
Ibid.
49.
Diouf, “Introduction: The Public Role of the ‘Good Islam,” 12.
50.
Zweiri, & König, “Are Shias Rising in the Western Part,” 518.
51.
Pham, “Shi’a in Senegal.”
52.
Ibid.
53.
Hunter, “Iran’s Foreign Policy,” 228–229.
54.
Farrar-Wellman, “Senegal-Iran Foreign Relations.”
55.
FARS News Agency, “Senegalese Minister Underlines Expansion.”
56.
SiasatRooz, “Iran-Senegal to Expand Relations.”
57.
Rubin, “Iran’s Global Ambition.”
58.
Szrom, “Ahmadinejad in West Africa,” 9.
59.
Ibid., 6.
60.
“Iran to Expand Senegal Refinery, Sell It Oil.”
61.
“Iran-Khodro Starts Samand Assembly in Senegal.”
62.
Pham, “Shi’a in Senegal.”
63.
“Senegal Severs Ties with Iran.”
64.
Hammond, “The Dakar Dance: Tumultuous Iran-Senegal.”
65.
There are between 15,000 and 30,000 Lebanese people in Senegal; 95% of them are Muslim, with a small Christian population and an insignificant Sŭnni Muslim presence (see Leichtman, “Migration, War”).
66.
Leichtman, “Migration, War,” 274.
67.
Ibid., 147.
68.
Leichtman, “Shia Cosmopolitanisms in Africa,” 154–156.
69.
Pham, “Shi’a in Senegal.”
70.
Schraeder, “Senegal Foreign Policy,” 505.
71.
Leichtman, “Shia Cosmopolitanisms in Africa,” 161.
72.
Union of Muslim Scholars, “Ăltăŝāŷĭ fĭ āfrĭqĭyā,” 236.
73.
Leichtman, “Shia Cosmopolitanisms in Africa,” 161.
74.
Leichtman, “Migration, War,” 269–270.
75.
Union of Muslim Scholars, “Ăltăŝāŷĭ fĭ āfrĭqĭyā,” 373.
76.
Leichtman, “Migration, War”; Ibid.
77.
David Dickson, “Political Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa,” 9.
78.
Villalón, “Sŭfi Rituals as Rallies,” 416.
79.
Hussein, “Islam in Africa”.
80.
Union of Muslim Scholars, “Ăltăŝāŷĭ fĭ āfrĭqĭyā,” 378.
81.
Union of Muslim Scholars, “Ăltăŝāŷĭ fĭ āfrĭqĭyā”.

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Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
Mahjoob Zweiri
Embassy of the Republic of Gambia in the State of Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Alieu Manjang

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Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
Luciano Zaccara

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Zweiri, M., Manjang, A. (2020). From Ahmadinejad to Rouhani: Iran’s Presence in Africa. In: Zaccara, L. (eds) Foreign Policy of Iran under President Hassan Rouhani's First Term (2013–2017). Contemporary Gulf Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3924-4_9

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3924-4_9
Published: 23 June 2020
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