Iran has offered to assist AU combat Boko Haram – the Nigerian terror group whose carnage is spilling across the border to affect neighboring nations. Iran has characterized its assistance as proof of the nation’s commitment to the promotion of global peace. Iran’s offer was made on Saturday by Amir Hossein Abdollohian – the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister – on the sidelines of the 24th Assembly of the African Union currently ongoing in Addis Ababa.
Abdollohian intuited that Al Shabaab and Boko Haram are the African version of the Middle Eastern terror groups, ISIL and Al Qaeda; and as such they need to be defeated before they cause unimaginable mayhem. He stated that Iran is willing to share its experience in fighting Al Qaeda and ISIL with African nations being menaced by Islamist terror groups.
Western indecisiveness towards the Boko Haram menace in West Africa has opened an opportunity for Iran to exploit. Iran has also pledged to assist Somalia combat Al Shabaab.
Mr.Abdollohian also accused western intelligence agencies of aiding ISIL and destabilizing the Middle East. The political and religious ideology guiding the political and military leadership in the Islamic Republic has seen the nation supporting Shiite militants in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Africa.
Iran is currently combating the ISIL terror organization, and its involvement in Nigeria serves a dual purpose; extend its geopolitical influence and also limit the spread of takfiri ideology in Africa. ISIL is a takfiri organization and Boko Haram emulation of the Arab terror organization has motivated Boko Haram to attack Nigerian Shias.
