پژوهشنامه آفریقا
پیاپی 2 (تابستان 1388)

The present article has been compiled in order to study the economic-trade evaluating parameters regarding the Northern Countries of Africa, in addition to estimating their position in the world economics in the past decade. This article, has surveyed the potentiality of northern African countries from different perspectives including geography, population, economical environment, economic and product trading after evaluation of the economic-trade parameters. The data analysis of these countries shows that they have the potential to become one of the economical and trading poles in Africa and Middle East. For instance among these countries, Egypt, enjoys an outstanding position in importation of Major Service Groups; which shows the high rivalry potential in the Major Service Groups (9 groups). Also, Egypt has a serious rivalry for the stabilization of stocks and its increase by the important exporting countries. The analysis of the main important purposes of several Northern African countries shows that the major and initial exporting purpose is the European Union; since geographically it is close by. The study of the status of these countries within the main product groups reveals that their first importing product is foods; while the first exporting product group is fuels. Possessing a vast geographic domain, a relatively high population, a large economic system and its suitable growth, in addition to trade of products, especially services, has given these countries a trading-economical potential. There is no doubt that Iran should utilize these points and privileges in the path of regional and international relations.

Africa accounts for nearly 14 percent of the world population. This continent has abundant tropical agricultural products and plentiful resources and underground mines. Of 54 African countries, 6 members including Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Sudan are identified as North Africa and other members are called Sub-Saharan area. In Africa, 11 countries have petroleum reserves amounting up to 87.9 billion barrels. Among African countries, there are apparent differences such as heterogeneous economic structure, different and unbalanced development levels, various political systems and cultural and ethnical diversity. Based on the latest statistics of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Africa has only 1.9 percent of world trade in which 5 countries including South Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Egypt account for more than 56 percent of Africa’s overall trade. 33 African countries are economically developed in the least level. The economic integration in the region is emerging in the framework of regional economic arrangements by recommendations and collaborations of African Development Bank (ADB), World Bank and other international institutions. About 27 of 56 members of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) are African countries. The average growth rate of GDP of Africa has been more than 5 percent in 2005. Africa’s trade with rest of the world has increased from 272 billion dollars in 2000 to 544 billion dollars in 2005. Africa’s trade balance has been positive in this period. The study of Iran-Africa relations during post-revolution era indicates that the base and foundation of these relations have been political rather than economic, so that Iran-Africa non-oil trade exchanges are not so important. Of course, Africa can be a proper market for introducing Iran's products and services. This paper has computed the cosine index of Iran's Exports and Africa's imports mutually, then has classified African countries into different groups in terms of trade completion with Iran; and has prioritized the target members of Africa with aim of promoting trade with Iran.

The survey of Islamic Republic of Iran’s relations with Sudan reveals that the background of the historical and cultural relations of Iran and Sudan goes back to right after the advent of Islam. The Iranian Muslim clerics who intended to propagate Islam, visited both the east and north of Africa; including Sudan. The immigration of Iranian clerics lead to the spread and development of Sufism in Sudan; which has as a matter of fact become a strong religious movement; making a significant identity in the cultural and civilization of Sudan. The background of the relationship has made it possible for Iran’s history, civilization and culture; in addition to the Iranian cultural elite, poets and writers to be of serious notice in Sudan’s assemblies and meetings. The survey of Islamic Republic of Iran’s relation with Sudan within an international scope after the Islamic Revolution shows that the major issue in this relation has been the elimination of deprivation, and helping the Muslims of Sudan, particularly in cultural dimensions, in addition to the promotion of religious basis of Shiite. A high variety of institutions have made their attempts in the field of religious and cultural propaganda in Iran and Sudan. Yet the outcome of the activities has constantly been much less than expected. The general purpose and question proposed in this research is; “how has been Iran’s relation with Sudan in cultural perspective after the Islamic Revolution?” “How has the changes in the national policies affected the process of this relationship?” The present research seeks to respond to the following questions: “What has the cultural status of Sudan been in the past, present and future, and what strategy does Iran utilize for the development of cultural development and the spread of religious foundation in Sudan? One of the most significant purposes of this research is to suggest a suitable framework for the evaluation of cultural activities abroad. Designing a proper pattern for evaluation and having feedback on the activities and the movement of executives of cultural system policies, in addition to the necessity and expediency of contemplation, has offered a research which finally manifests as the recognition of harms of Iran’s cultural activities in Sudan.

Nowadays water, as a competitive and favored element and at the same time a worrisome factor in the life and existence of mankind’s descendants, has appeared into the governments’ affairs and disputes. Considering the various values of water, it is of concern for the governments and nations as a valuable item; which due to its constant increasing demand, has been discussed as a political element and is assumed a significant political merit. Only about 2.5% of the world’s waters are sweet water and the rest are saltwater, while from the overall sweet waters just around 0.3% can be recycled. Access to this water is difficult due to the following factors; irregular consumption as a result of population increase, industrialization, change in consumption model, lack of steady distribution of water in the world countries, evacuation, pollution of the underground sweet water resources, in addition to it becoming salty, the high pollution of surface fresh waters through mankind’s activities including economical activities, the collaboration of water resources among several countries, the dominance of upper countries and the dependence of lower part countries related to international rivers etc. Water, which is known as a strategic substance, a rare source, the source of life, and water is one of the competitive tools among countries and one of the world’s challenges which will cause wars and strife in future. The issue of access to water resources has become so important that many countries, including Israel, consider interference in the origin, path and destination of the water resources lawful within the neighboring countries. In this article we intend to survey the strategic role of the Nile River in the countries’ convergence or divergence and the extent to which the Zionistic Regime and the U.S. influence it within a descriptive-analytic method.

About three decades has passed from the persistent crises of the Regional Horn of Africa. Research centers and university research centers have accomplished several investigations and surveys on the elements, components, causes, process, and also the consequences of the mentioned crises in a wide range. The present article tries to express and elaborate the strategic framework of Ethiopia regional policy through surveying the policies of Addis-Ababa against Somalia’s financial crises. The identification and recognition of Ethiopia’s goals and the region’s priorities against Somalia’s transformations in different levels, provides the demanded devices for knowing the strategic purposes of this country as the region’s significant participant in the region of the Horn of Africa. The author of this article has traced the historical process of Ethiopia’s politicians’ interactions and reactions towards components of Somalia’s crises in order to become familiar with the mechanisms of policy-making and decision-making organs; so that it could finally realize how the purposes and regional policies have been executed by the related authorities and devices in Ethiopia.

The Zionist Regime observes its relationship with Africa quite valuable; increasing its influence in this continent with the least expense; offering technical, army, political, security and technological supports; penetrating into the beneficial and advantageous market of the Dark Continent; ravaging its resources and earning dominance on the region of the Horn of Africa; ultimately providing its needs in the Red Sea. The struggles and conflicts between the Arabs and Israel, the significance of African countries in the international system and the power of their opinions and vote in the United Nations, added to the presence of minority groups of Jews in Africa has made Israel concerned about Africa as a continent. The region of the Horn of Africa has always been of notice to the large powers in the region, in addition to the regions beyond that; that is especially the Zionist Regime. The crises of this region, which is due to the tribal and ethnical disputes, border disagreements among the countries of the continent, and rebellious leaders such as ISAIAS Afworki, the chief of Republic of Eritrea, has made it possible for the Israel Regime to have an active presence there more than before. Also, the phenomena of piracy, and its increasing rate in 2008 and 2009, provided a suitable chance for estimating the vulnerability rate of the Zionistic Regime’s security in the Red Sea; in addition to finding a solution for providing its security. The active presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the recent years in Africa after two decades of inattention to the region of Horn of Africa, made Israel plan for obstacles for the growth of Iran’s influence in this region through its serious presence. This article intends to survey the grounds for the presence of the Israel Regime in the region of East Africa, closely analyzing the targets of Israel’s foreign minister to this region after twenty years.

Sudan, which has a prominent and strategic position in Africa and the Islamic world, is the ninth country regarding its covering area in the world, and spreads to a quarter of Europe. In addition to the mentioned points, Sudan enjoys a significant status in the world regarding rich underground mine sources and oil; therefore colonizers and foreign countries have been constantly covetous of its valuable sources. The Zionistic Regime is among those countries that feel it necessary to interfere in Sudan; so in this way Sudan fails to focus on civil stability and becoming a great power. Sudan is one of the proponents of freedom-seeking movements, an opponent of imperialistic policies and also the so-called process of the Middle East Peace; factors which affect the Zionistic Regime’s attempts, and also its western allies for making this country tense and in a critical state. Sudan has suffered from civil crises for many years due to several reasons; and the crises in the south of Sudan and also Darfur are among them. The Zionistic Regime intensifies Sudan’s civil crises through an active presence in the region; by offering financial supports, arms and training rebellious groups; while it also tries to support the rebellious groups in all possible aspects. A review of the struggles and also the crises in the south of Sudan with the central government in the past years; in addition to the civil crises in west of Sudan in Darfur, makes the role of this regime in supporting the rebels clear.