Don't Forget Iran in the Africa Equation
By Douglas Farah
While some attention has deservedly been paid to the spread of Wahhabi influence in the pan-Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, the competing influence of Iran's radical Shi'ites is almost completely ignored and unexamined. Yet across northern Nigeria, in Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea, and elsewhere, the Iranian government is pouring in millions of dollars. This includes building mosques, setting up schools and flying thousands of young men to Iran for Islamic training. It is one of the latest incarnations of the traditional competition between the Sunnis in Saudi Arabia and most of the Gulf, and the Shi'ites who dominate in Iran and Iraq.
While the Shi'ia, Iran-backed Hezbollah, through the Lebanese community, has had an influence on West Africa for decades, Iran has not been a traditional player in the local Muslim communities. That may be changing.
It is not clear what inroads have been made because it is so difficult to get into this area. But, as Iran elects more hardline leadership, continues to shelter al Qaeda leaders and becomes increasingly active in Iraq, it is worth considering.
The Iranian leadership is unlikely to give trips, mosques and other financial and spiritual inducements without exacting a quid pro quo. Go here for the complete blog.