Since late February 2026, the United States and Israel have launched a large-scale campaign of strikes in Iran. This offensive is part of a process that began following the attacks of 7 October 2023, which led to the gradual dismantling of several components of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ supported by Tehran. Against this backdrop, this e-Note analyses the consequences of this conflict on Iran’s presence and ambitions in Africa. Despite the weakening of the Iranian regime and its growing isolation, Africa remains a major strategic arena for Tehran, particularly in fragile regions such as the Horn of Africa or the Sahel, where Tehran seeks to project its influence through cultural, economic and security means. This strategy, essential to Iran’s political and economic survival, could intensify further as the country also attempts to target its adversaries beyond the Gulf. This conflict also risks exacerbating instability in fragile African states and further damaging the perception of the West on the continent.
Download e-Note 94(Only available in French)
Research lines: Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa; Middle East and North Africa;
Non-Arab Muslim World
Source Image: BE Defence
e-Note 94
Opération Fureur épique :
impact pour l’Afrique
Series of publications by the CSDS focusing on Iran’s influence in Africa:
L’Iran des ayatollahs en Afrique