Tel Aviv: The Israeli intelligence organisations warned the US about the special efforts made by the Hezbollah, the major Iranian proxy to deepen its involvement in Africa. Israeli sources said that “hard evidence” has been shared with Washington.
Hezbollah’s operations in Africa are described in a special research paper written by Alexander Grinberg for the website of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS). Grinberg served in the Israeli defence forces (IDF) Military Intelligence research department.
According to Grinberg, as the IDF confronts Hezbollah in Lebanon, striving to safeguard Israeli citizens from the group’s malign activities, 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,” writes Grinberg.
According to the researcher, while Iran’s ambitions are often scrutinised 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 narco trafficking and terrorism, Hezbollah could potentially activate these networks against the US 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,” the paper elaborates.
Grinberg writes that 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 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.”
Grinberg writes that Hezbollah has further deepened its presence in Africa through charitable organisations serving as fundraising fronts. In Nigeria, charities affiliated wit Hezbollah claim to support the Lebanese diaspora but secretly function as critical components of its financial network. One such organisation is the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association flagged by US authorities for its ties to Hezbollah.
According to Grinberg, addressing this multifaceted threat necessitates a coordinated effort among the US, 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 writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
