NAIROBI: The leaders of Kenya and Iran have vowed to strengthen their relations as their governments signed a raft of trade agreements during the maiden visit of Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian President, to the East African nation on Wednesday.
The visit comes as the Islamic Republic seeks to increase diplomatic support and reduce its isolation on the global stage. Raisi is also scheduled to visit Zimbabwe and Uganda this week as part of Iran’s first official trip to Africa in 11 years. In addition to meeting with William Ruto of Kenya, Raisi will go to Uganda later today for meetings with Yoweri Museveni and meet with Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe on Thursday.
In recent months, Africa has become a diplomatic battleground as the West and Russia compete for support over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which has had a disastrous economic impact on the continent and driven up food prices. Along with India and China, on an infrastructure investment binge in Africa, Western powers have also attempted to strengthen trade links with the region. The visit Raisi made to Kenya, according to Raisi, was “a turning point in the development of relations between [the] two countries.”
In his remarks, he said that his discussions with Ruto demonstrated “the determination and will of both countries for expansion of political, economic, cultural and trade cooperation.” The two governments have signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focusing on investment promotion, information technology, and fisheries.
Ruto called Iran “a critical strategic partner for Kenya” and called it one of the countries that had signed the most MoUs. “These memoranda will strengthen and deepen our bilateral relations for our two countries’ development and sustainable growth.”
Ruto informed the media that Raisi had also disclosed Iran’s intentions to build a factory in Mombasa, a port city, to “manufacture an indigenous Iranian vehicle that has now been given the Kiswahili name “Kifaru,” meaning rhino.”
‘Common political views’
Raisi is leading a delegation that includes the foreign minister and other business figures, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, expressed hope that the three-day tour will strengthen economic and commercial connections between Iran and African countries.
Without going into detail, he added on Monday that “common political views” exist between Africa and Tehran. Iran has intensified its diplomacy recently to lessen its isolation and counter the effects of crushing sanctions re-imposed since the United States withdrew from a meticulously negotiated nuclear deal in 2018. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which also includes Russia, China, and India, welcomed Iran as a member last week.
As part of a deal negotiated by China in March, Tehran agreed to restore relations with Saudi Arabia, a rival in the region. Since then, it has attempted to rebuild ties with other regional nations, particularly Egypt and Morocco. Before traveling to Indonesia in June, Raisi completed a tour of Latin America that included Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
