Tanzania And Dr Congo Lead East Africa At Khamenei Funeral In Iran
The story
Uganda did not send a high-level government delegation to Tehran for the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, even as neighbouring Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were represented at the ceremony that drew delegations from dozens of countries.
The absence of a senior Ugandan delegation comes despite decades of cordial relations between Kampala and Tehran, which have seen three of Iran's last four presidents visit Uganda.
Details
The DRC was represented by Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen'Apala, while Tanzania's delegation was led by Sheikh Abdallah Salum Ally, the Grand Mufti of Tanzania, accompanied by senior officials from the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) and representatives of the Tanzanian Embassy in Tehran.
The Tanzanian delegation attended the opening funeral ceremonies and conveyed condolences on behalf of the country's Muslim community.
Immam Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 when the US and Israel launched an unprovoked attacks on Tehran and targeted his residence with missiles that also killed his 14-month-old granddaughter Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani alongside her mother Boshra Khamenei.
Uganda's decision mirrors its response following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May 2024. At the time, Kampala also refrained from sending a senior political delegation to Tehran.
Instead, President Museveni visited the Iranian Embassy in Kampala on May 22, 2024, where he signed the condolence book and met Iran's ambassador. Museveni described Raisi as "a unifier" and "a very dedicated person" while recalling the late Iranian leader's state visit in July 2023 in a first visit to Africa by an Iranian president in more than a decade.
For Raisi's funeral, Uganda was formally represented in Tehran by its Chargé d'Affaires, Oscar Edule, who attended an official diplomatic condolence ceremony organised by Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Ugandan government and people.
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