پژوهشنامه آفریقا
پیاپی 3 (پاییز 1388)

The studies of archeologists imply that China and Africa have been in close connection since three millenniums ago. This relationship found a commercial identity from the sixth century and showed stronger tendency in the eastern and northern regions of Africa. During colonialism and while the Portuguese were in the east of Africa, the links between China and Africa reduced. After the Communist Revolution in China and as the countries of this continent earned independence, China’s presence became more solid in this continent as a result of communism ideology. China regarded the African countries an important source in the international political scene and for this reason it sought progress and strength in cooperation and unity with the African countries in economical, political and cultural aspects. Therefore the establishment of political affairs and relations between China and the African countries can be considered as the result and outcome of China’s initial attempts rather than the African countries. The primary purpose of China was to be diplomatically recognized by the African countries. China achieved its purpose through holding the Asia-African Congress, in addition to offering financial support to some countries. China earned a position as the permanent member of the United Nation’s Security Council, replace Taipei China and finally turn into an important international player through its diplomacy. Although China at first had an ideological purpose for penetration into Africa, it changed this policy in 1980 and focused on an economical approach; even though it faced some obstacles and problems in its way. The present paper intends to survey China and Africa’s relation in different historical eras along with the changes created in each period, added to making a close study of the means used for the further development of this relationship- including the conferences and common meetings, finally studying its effects on the development of this relation. In the end, the positive and negative reactions of the African and western countries towards China’s presence in Africa have been conveyed.

Egypt enjoys an eminent position in the field of trade with Iran compared to other African countries. The reasons for this are; large area and a high population of Muslims, rich natural sources, large industrial factories, plenty of exchange income from tourism, high trade potency, a superior geographic- strategic position in Africa, added to its close geographical distance from Iran. All these facilities and potencies can pave the way for Egypt’s economical cooperation with Iran and lead to the expansion of commercial cooperation among these two countries, yet there is a wide gap between the commercial potential capacity and the achieved potentials of Egypt with Iran. The present article intends to evaluate this phenomenon. The purpose of this article is the estimation of Iran’s potential for export of products to Egypt through using the indicator of commercial potential, proportional benefits, and the cosine indicator during 2001-2005, reaching the following Egypt has the indicator of 0/708 and 0/653 in import and export to Iran which shows the highest possibility and potency for trade with Iran among the African countries. Also, in the mentioned period, the average value of annual usual potential in Iran’s exportation has been 2141/90 million dollars, while only 11/02 million in year has been practically earned. As a matter of fact, the average value of the usual annual potential in exportation from Iran to Egypt which has not been practically earned is 0/51 million dollars, which means that only a very small portion of the normal exportation potential of Iran to Egypt has been used. Among the products which have a high potency for export to Egypt, the nonpetroleum products which have a high surplus value, small weigh value, and ultimately consumable, have the first priority for Exportation from Iran to Egypt.

Human development is a comprehensive, multidimensional, long term and dynamic process that aims to improve the quality of human life. The Human Development Index (HDI) is constructed from three components: a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living. These dimensions of Human development are measured by different indicators including life expectancy at birth (years), level of education (adult literacy rate and Gross enrolment ratio) and gross domestic products (GDP) per capita at purchasing power parity. The HDI report which has published by UNDP since 1990 provides a general assessment of country achievements in human development. It also could be an important tool for assessing and monitoring trends in human development. The main aim of this paper is to study the status of HDI in Africa through a comparative prism.

Limitations and religious obstacles in the way of sexual desires can affect the transfer of contagious sexual diseases. Recognition and application of a few Islamic principles can decrease the transfer of the HIV virus. The assumption of the present article is that the spread of AIDS is lower among Muslims, compared to the non-Muslims. The percentage of transfer and spread of AIDS shows a negative rate among the Muslims of 38 religious African countries. Among the seven published papers on the relation between religious beliefs and AIDS, six of them show that there is a negative relation between the common spread and prevalence of this disease and being a Muslim. Further studies accomplished about the threats of AIDS spread factors, all offer a complexity of reasons regarding the practice of Islamic sexual principles (for instance having sexual affairs outside marital relationship. Obviously there are other factors which affect the decrease of being afflicted to this disease. For instance benefits derived though circumcision reduces the rate of AIDS spread among Muslims.

Nowadays, organizational efficacy enjoys a prominent position in the discussions related to management and organization, and it actually counts as one of the evaluating factors in functionality. In here efficacy means the survey of the level of the efficacy of the acts done for achievement of the preplanned purposes. Based on the second clause written in the statute of Imam Khomeini Relief Committee, the target community within this organ is not limited to inside the country and actually the deprived and needy people of some of the other countries have enjoyed the blessings and grace of this sacred organ. One of the countries which has benefited from the services and privileges of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee is Komor, an African country. This research took place with the purpose of evaluation of the rate of the fulfilled purposes, in addition to the strategic and operational plans of the of Imam khomeini Relief Foundation in the Union of the Comoros during three years covering 2006-2009. Among the available approaches for efficacy, this research has utilized the approach which is based on the purpose as the theoretical model. The statistical community of this research includes the state managers and clerks, the religious personalities, university professors and students, and all the other jobs which has employed people over fifteen years of age, added to the literate people of the main cities in the Union of the Comoros. Sampling was done in cluster form and categories in accordance with the volume and simple randomization and in overall 252 people were selected for the samplings. Among the variety of tools for data collection, questionnaires were used and for the survey of the narrative of the mentioned questionnaires, considering the type of the questions- content narrative was applied. Also in order to discover a stable position, the Kronbach Alfa Method was used. For data analysis at the level of descriptive statistics, statistical majorities such as the average, percentage etc, and the T-Test were used for the comprehension level. The results of the research emphasize that the Imam khomeini Relief Foundation enjoys sufficient efficacy according to the Comoros communities both for reaching the strategic and operational targets.

Since the sixth decade, international affairs has gone through deep changes and evolutions, and in this relation Africa has shown the spirit of independency as a prominent dimension, an issue called the African Renaissance by the African scholars. Also after a decade, a magnificent revolution took place in all the international systems, in which the military mechanisms as a functional device gradually changed their role into economical and strategic mercantilist functions. Therefore the division of the East and West blocks gave their place to the North-South poles in the international systems. As a consequence of the modern economical functions which played their role by the organs and the international financial institutes instead of military and militaristic devices in the international scene, the phenomenon known as globalization emerged from the depth of the capitalistic system based on liberalistic economy. The emergence of this phenomenon in the present era caused a variety of different reactions in the international level by different states. Africa was among such states as it had experienced the bitterness of colonialism and exploitation. Actually Africa showed prompt reaction to the phenomenon of globalization, among which the establishment of different unions can be mentioned. In this research, the author suggests the regionalism approach for protection of the African countries in the field of globalization, which is a suitable path for the southern and the third world countries for the purpose of political, economical, commercial and cultural developments. This approach improves and creates appropriate opportunities for both sides at a similar level, while it also paves the way for regional and ultra-regional integration. Through such integration, the southern countries can change their position from absolute attachment and dependency towards the northern countries in the form of reciprocal dependency and attachment.

Mali is a country in the western region of Africa with Muslim inhabitants; a place in which Islam has had the deepest influence on its social and cultural organs. This country, located in the margins of the Sahara desert, enjoys peculiar beauty due to its landscape as a desert, which also counts as one of the Islamic countries of Africa and the foundation of Islam in there goes back to many centuries ago. Islam emerged into the northern parts of Mali through some traders, merchants and the missionaries of North Africa from early centuries. Yet, the climax of the Islamic civilization in Mali occurred in the Islamic middle era, when a number of great Islamic kingdoms settled down there. Mali earned world fame in this era, especially during the reign of Mansa Musa, the famous emperor, ultimately getting well-known as an Islamic country throughout Africa. In addition to that, during this period the city of Timbuktu turned into a great academic and scientific center for Islam. The Islamic University of Sankuru, which today covers three magnificent mosques in this city, is the second greatest Islamic university in Africa, while the Al-Azhar University has the first position. This article in brief surveys the city of Timbuktu from a cultural point of view as it was introduced the cultural center of the Islamic World by the Islamic Conference Organization. What is more, there is a lot to be said and discussed about the amazing city of Timbuktu and what is expressed in here is just a brief hint.