As the IDF confronts Hezbollah in Lebanon, striving to safeguard Israeli citizens from the group’s malign activities, Israel is also preparing for potential strikes against Iran, driven by the growing threat of Iranian ballistic missiles. This precarious situation heightens already volatile regional tensions, highlighting the significant challenges Israel faces as it contends with forces intent on undermining its security and stability.
However, an equally pressing issue is Hezbollah’s expanding influence across Africa, supported by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This alliance poses a serious security threat not only to Israel but also to the interests of the United States and the stability of several fragile African states.
While Iran’s ambitions are often scrutinized in the Middle East, its influence has increasingly permeated Africa. Using Hezbollah as its proxy, Iran has infiltrated various nations, exploiting weak governance and porous borders to establish strategic footholds. Hezbollah’s activities in Africa extend beyond regional influence; they form part of a broader, concerted strategy to undermine Western interests globally.
Through the use of narcotrafficking and terrorism, Hezbollah could potentially activate these networks against the U.S. or Israel should tensions escalate. Hezbollah has adeptly built financial networks across West Africa, primarily through the Lebanese Shi’ite diaspora. Countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are home to businesses that funnel significant revenue back to Hezbollah’s central command. A notable example is Kassim Tajideen, a businessman whose commercial empire spanned multiple sectors, including food distribution and telecommunications. His enterprises generated essential income streams that ultimately supported Hezbollah’s activities. In 2009, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Tajideen for his role as a financier, highlighting the group’s reliance on illicit activities such as smuggling and tax evasion. Hezbollah’s presence in Africa extends beyond illicit business and sleeper terror cells. Iranian diplomats provide cover for Hezbollah’s activities in Africa and maintain contacts with Hezbollah grassroots operatives on the ground. Iranian propaganda flourishes in African countries with local Shi’ite communities, such as Nigeria, Tanzania, and Niger, where the largest of these communities are situated. Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal are home to smaller Shi’ite communities (fewer than a million). Iran actively promotes Khomeinist propaganda among the local Shi’ite Muslims through its Islamic Culture and Communications Organization (ICRO). Many of the employees of these organizations are in fact IRGC officers who maintain ties with Hezbollah cells. The strengthening ties between South Africa and Iran are central to Iran’s strategy in Africa. The cooperation between the two nations is multi- dimensional: South Africa helps Iran to promote the delegitimization of Israel. There are suspicions that South Africa submitted a file against Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the behest of Iran and Qatar. The IRGC and Hezbollah thrive in South Africa.
Iran has another African state ally in Africa – Algeria. Iran has supported the terrorist POLISARIO Front against Morocco and Algeria provides arms and training to the movement’s fighters. Given that that most Iranians do not speak Arabic, Iran relies on Hezbollah to assist Algeria in training the POLISARIO and facilitating better communication with the North African country. Hezbollah maintains representatives in Algeria.
Hezbollah’s illicit activities include not only terrorism and drug trafficking but also blood diamonds, illegal finances, and even the art business. One of the group’s key financiers is the Lebanese businessman Nazem Ahmad who has close ties with the above-mentioned Tajideen. Ahmad’s business ties span several African countries. He is involved in the trade of blood diamonds and has found a sophisticated way of money laundering through his art collection, which contains works by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, worth millions of dollars. In 2019, the U.S. Treasury named Ahmad a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
The group’s financial networks are also linked to broader criminal operations. For example, Ayman Joumaa, a Hezbollah operative, was indicted in the U.S. for laundering drug money from Latin American cartels through West Africa. His network facilitated the transport of cocaine to Europe and laundered substantial sums for these cartels.
Hezbollah has further deepened its presence in Africa through charitable organizations serving as fundraising fronts. In Nigeria, charities affiliated with Hezbollah claim to support the Lebanese diaspora but secretly function as critical components of its financial network. One such organization is the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association flagged by U.S. authorities for its ties to Hezbollah.
The IRGC’s control over Hezbollah has significant implications for Iran’s ambitions in Africa. Hezbollah networks form a key pillar of Iranian disruption activities on the continent. Reports indicate that the IRGC has developed close ties with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Sudan, providing military support in exchange for strategic gains, such as the establishment of a naval base in Port Sudan. This base would enable Iran and Hezbollah to launch attacks against Israeli and Western targets in the region, further consolidating their influence in Africa. Additionally, it would bolster the ability of the Houthis to project power in the Horn of Africa. The alliance between Hezbollah, al-Burhan, and the IRGC in Africa poses a growing threat to Western interests.
Hezbollah is well-positioned to leverage its established financial and operational networks for future conflicts. As tensions with Iran escalate, the potential for Hezbollah to exploit its African footholds grows, transforming the continent into a new front in the broader geopolitical struggle.
Addressing this multifaceted threat necessitates a coordinated effort among the U.S., Israel, and African governments to disrupt Hezbollah’s financial networks and counter its ambitions. The United States must adopt a proactive strategy in Africa, integrating security measures, economic development, and diplomatic engagement to counter the influence of Iran and Hezbollah. The ties between the corrupt South African regime and Iran and Hezbollah must not be allowed to go under the radar. With recent Israeli actions weakening Hezbollah’s position, now is the time to act decisively in the battle against this alliance.
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