The Islamic Reformation continues apace in Africa . . .

With Iran-Backed Conversions, Shiites Gain Ground in Africa

. . . as it spreads, we will need to remain aloof, yet ready to help the Shiite maneuver the battle towards the full, unfettered reformation of both Sunni, and Shiite factions of Islam. The goal is ultimately a renaissance, and enlightenment of Islam, of the type Protestantism brought to Christianity. 

"Hard figures are difficult to come by. But in Nigeria alone, Africa’s most populous nation, some 12% of its 90-million-strong Muslim population have identified themselves as Shiite in a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, up from virtually zero in 1980. The number is 21% for the Muslims of Chad, 20% for Tanzania, and 8% for Ghana, according to the survey."

The collapse of oil prices will cause a serious deflation of the House of Saud, and its ability to continue to support Wahhabism throughout the world. 

"'The core of the Saudi-Iranian confrontation over power and territory is in the Middle East. But West African Shiites are of symbolic value to Iran, for it to be able to say that its vision of Islam is expanding rather than shrinking. They give Iran more of a claim that they’re able to speak for Muslims in the whole world,” said Vali Nasr, dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and author of a book on the Shiite revival.

Pushing back, the Saudis have already pressed some of Iran’s erstwhile African Muslim allies to sever ties with Tehran, curb Shiite conversions and join Riyadh’s “antiterror coalition.” One of these countries, Sudan, in recent months went as far as sending troops to fight, under Saudi command, against the Shiite Houthi militia in Yemen."

Of course, what the Salafist/Wahhabist mean by "antiterror coalition" is terrorism. It is nearly perfect double speak. The House of Saud is the enemy, the Shia are the ally, never misunderstand this alignment. Our policies for the past 70+ years were based on the need to have allies against International Socialism, but he USSR fell decades ago, and we failed to move on from the Cold War. A war we fight to this day against a long dead foe.

We need to revitalize our foreign policy apparatus, and create a new model with which to view the world, until we do we are likely to continue to support the enemy against the ally. This is incredibly pathetic, and damaging.