The visit, which was postponed by a day, comes as the Islamic Republic works to strengthen diplomatic ties to lessen its isolation on the world stage; Raisi is also scheduled to visit Zimbabwe and Uganda this week.
Iran holds talks with Kenya’s Ruto: Raisi will meet with Ruto in addition to his counterparts from Uganda and Zimbabwe, Yoweri Museveni and Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In recent months, Africa has become a diplomatic battleground as the West and Russia compete for support over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which has had a disastrous economic impact on the continent and driven up food prices.
Along with India and China, which have been on an infrastructure investment binge in Africa, Western powers have also attempted to strengthen trade links with the region.
Raisi is leading a delegation that includes the foreign minister and key businessmen, according to the official news agency of Iran, IRNA.
Nasser Kanani, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, called the three-day trip “a new turning point” that might strengthen commercial and trade ties with African countries.
The three African nations and Tehran, he added, “share common political views.”
In order to lessen its isolation and counteract the effects of crushing sanctions reimposed since the United States withdrew from a meticulously negotiated nuclear deal in 2018, Iran has intensified its diplomacy in recent months.
In an effort to strengthen ties with Algiers, Raisi welcomed Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf on Saturday.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which also includes Russia, China, and India, welcomed Iran as a member last week.
As part of a deal negotiated by China in March, Tehran consented to mending relations with Saudi Arabia, a rival in the area. Since then, it has been attempting to rebuild ties with other nations in the area, particularly Egypt and Morocco.
Before travelling to Indonesia in June, Raisi completed a tour of Latin America that took in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.