Iran condoles with Tanzania, condemns Niger massacre

Iran has offered condolences to Tanzania over the demise of President John Magufuli. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh expressed the Iranian nation and government's deep regret and sorrow to the Tanzanian nation and government.

The 61-year old president has died due to heart disease, the government announced on Wednesday, more than two weeks after he was last seen in public.

The president’s absence had raised speculation about his health and sparked rumors he had contracted COVID-19, although officials had denied he was ill.

Following his death, the country’s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Friday.

The East African country’s first female president, announced 21 days of mourning for Magufuli, in a public address on Thursday.

Iran also condemned recent deadly attacks in Niger, that left dozens of people dead close the country's border with Mali, earlier this week.

In a statement on Thursday, Khatibzadeh offered Iran’s sympathy to the Nigerien nation and government.

He also offered condolences to the families of the victims.

On Monday, unidentified gunmen attacked a bus and nearby villages in the Tillaberi region located in the "tri-border area," – a flashpoint zone where the frontiers of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali converge.

No group claimed responsibility, but Niger has been the target of attacks by militants in the west near Mali and a decade-old militancy by the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria.

MG