Tehran has been looking to diversify its relations with Africa
By Rutahigwa Sharif,
KAMPALA, Uganda, -The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran H.E. Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi has arrived in Uganda for a 2-day official visit, aimed at strengthening political and trade cooperation with the African nation.
He will hold bilateral talks with his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni, the two leaders are also expected to address a Business Forum at Al-Mustafa Islamic College in Kampala as part of their activities to boost trade relations.
President Raisi is also expected to visit the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Mubaje at the national mosque. The last Iranian leader to visit Africa was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013.
Raisi’s trip comes a month after Raisi embarked on a tour of Latin America, where he signed agreements to boost ties with fellow US-sanctioned allies Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.
Tehran has been looking to diversify its relations since the United States unilaterally abandoned the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018.
Last week, Iran became the ninth member of the regional bloc of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the end of the 23rd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of States, where Belarus and Mongolia were invited as observer States.
Other SCO members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, India and Uzbekistan.
Source: AA
