Why is Iran’s president visiting Africa for the first time in ten years?

This week the continent welcomed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi for a three country visit. It’s a rare visit, it’s the first by an Iranian president to Africa in ten years.

President Raisi’s trip began in Kenya where he was welcomed by President William Ruto and a military parade. This week President Raisi heads to Uganda and then to Zimbabwe. In recent years, western countries have imposed sanctions to make Iran’s leaders agree to limit its nuclear activities and have severely damaged Iran’s economy.

So today Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at Africa’s relationship with Iran and what this renewed interest could mean for the continent.