Realpolitik: Interesting Article

[bosmanoglu]

I would like to share one article for you from a Turkish newspaper.

http://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/es-sebab-in-kenya-dusmanliginin-asil-nedeni-iran-kenya-dostlugu-100950.html

 

I saw many comments on regions, realism on being independent and away from cental Federal government etc.

 

Please read this article and see what kind of political environment Somalia is in. And think if it would be safer to have one strong Somalia state or many tiny Somali states.

 

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Reason of Al-shabaab’s Kenya hatred: Iran-Kenya Friendship

It is not a coincidence that Al-shabaab attacked a shopping center in September 2013 killing 68 people right after a comprehensive agreement is reached between Iran and Kenya.

 

Being one of the most famous ultra religious terrorist organizations, Al-shabaab recently attacked and killed 60 Kenyan soldiers who were part of Peace Keeping Mission in Somalia. Al-shabaab considers Kenyan troops as an invading force but this is not the only motivation behind this attack, there is also religious sectarian reason: Kenya is best partner of Iran in Africa which Al-shabaab considers as enemy.

 

Iran and Kenya has close cooperation on agriculture, housing, oil, natural gas and electricity production. Saudi Arabia supported Wahhabi organization Al-shabaab, considers it as a threat of Shia influence on region's Muslim nations.

 

The real reason of Iran’s reach to Africa and establish friendships is to counter Israel’s activities in region. Israel has eyes on Africa due to its security concerns; especially in Ethiopia they have a serious military presence. Ethiopia being neighbor to many Arab states, this is a serious situation. Iran’s presence in Eritrea is counter-balanced by this presence and it is vital for Israel. Iran is providing guns and armament to Shia Hutsis in Yemen thru Assab seaport of Eritrea. At the same time Israel is trying to increase its influence on Kenya and Cibuti. Let’s remember Cibuti cut its ties with Iran recently.

 

Israel’s Concerns

Iran having Sudan as its center for operations is targeting to be dominant in region; paying attention to Bab-ul Mendep water corridor which is one of the most important international water corridors of the world. This corridor connects Red Sea to Aden Gulf and to Suez Canal which Israel tantalize. Iran is operating in region for both to increase its strategical power and to be able to deliver its oil securely. On these targets, Israel is not the only obstacle to Iran. Somalia origined Al-shabaab is a more important concern for them. This group is very close to Saudi Wahhabism which is the most hardline sect of sunni faith. They play the same tune, even to the point to share their unlimited hatred towards mosques. They often target sufi mosques in region.

 

When Kenya and Iran became Friends

It became clear why Al-shabaab targets Kenya at this point; Kenya and Iran signed many long-term agreements on many topics. Countries have direct flights among them and many Kenyan students are attending to Iranian Universities. Start of these cooperation dates back to 2009 when Iranian President Mahmud Ahmedinejat visited Kenya. In 2012, Iran Vice President Muhammed Rıza Rahimi visited Kenya to sign an agreement on oil. According to agreement, Kenya is buying 80 thousand barrels of oil Daily from Iran. Iran is best customer for Kenya Tea. %20 of Kenya’s tea is sold to Iran.

 

Beginning from 2012, West headed by US warned Kenya on international sanctions against Iran. Kenya was mentioned among strategical partners of US against war on terror. Despite this fact, Kenya never cut its ties with Iran and keeping a low profile against West on relations to Iran.

 

It is clear that Al-shabaab is not targeting Kenya only because it considers Kenya as an occupying force. At the same time it is a fact that group is targeting to end Kenya-Iran relations in the motivation of ending “spread of Shia” in region. Kenya made agreements with Israel on agriculture but this didn’t motivate Al-shabaab attacks. However, when there is a development on Iran-Kenya relations, attacks come; like September 2013 shopping mall incident that they killed 68 people.

 

 

 

[xabad]

This poor piece is Turkish foreign policy propaganda not journalism. We know Iran and Turkey are at loggerheads.

 

 

[bosmanoglu]

<cite>

@xabad

said:</cite>

This poor piece is Turkish foreign policy propaganda not journalism. We know Iran and Turkey are at loggerheads.

 

again you are reacting without information.

 

Birgün is a socialist newspaper that is totally against "Turkish Foreign Policy". Writer and writers of this paper are prosecuted many times. They are reknown with their famous headline "hirsiz" (burglar) against president and spent months at courts for that.

 

 

[galbeedi]

Well, Iran are no longer in Sudan. the latter cut ties due to Saudi pressure . Also Sudan already sent a contingent of it's army to hold the port city of Eden to help anti Houtie forces in Yemen.

 

one thing I would agree with article is the direct relations between Al-shabaab and the Saudi financers both private citizens and covert government support.