Iran: Iranian President Mr. Ebrahim Raisi has arrived in Kenya as part of his tour of three African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The visit is being presented by Tehran as a “new beginning” in relations between Iran and Africa.
Mr. Raisi’s arrival in Kenya was met with a warm reception from Kenyan President Mr. William Ruto, including a red carpet welcome. The tour is significant as it marks the first visit by an Iranian president to Africa in over a decade, signalling Iran’s intention to diversify economic ties in the face of US sanctions.
Iranian and Kenyan ministers signed five memoranda of understanding relating to areas such as information technology, fisheries, livestock products, and investment promotion.
At a press briefing after meeting Mr. Ruto, Mr. Raisi, who has previously described Africa as a “continent of opportunities”, said he wanted to boost commercial ties with African countries.
“None of us are satisfied with the current volume of trade and the current economic exchange between countries,” Mr. Raisi commented.
Iran’s foreign ministry recently stated that it expects trade with African countries to increase to more than $2 billion this year, without providing a comparative figure for 2022.
The Kenyan president noted that he had sought Mr. Raisi’s commitment to facilitate the export of more Kenyan tea, meat, and other agricultural products to Iran and, via Iran, to Central Asian countries.
Under Mr. Ruto, Kenya is struggling with debt and rising living costs, with protests expected to continue on Wednesday in the capital, Nairobi, and elsewhere.
Mr. Raisi is expected to next fly to Uganda to discuss trade and bilateral relations with President Yoweri Museveni, and then to Zimbabwe.
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