Focus on Africa the heart of the global south
Context:
- India wants to be recognised as the voice of the Global South, a region centred on Africa, through its G20 leadership. This continent’s 54 countries are primarily developing or least developed countries. For the South to be adequately represented, it is essential to comprehend African culture and development, especially in respect to its external relationships. This will establish how India can support the advancement of Africa’s ambitions. A critical evaluation of the summit’s outcomes is required in light of this.
Taking place in Washington:
- The second U.S.-Africa summit took place in Washington in December 2022. Presidents of 49 countries and the AU chair were among the African attendees. The American president discussed political, security, and economic cooperation with his guests. The leaders also talked on ways to deal with the climate crisis, improve food security, mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and upcoming pandemics, and fortify ties among the diaspora.
- There were several important decisions made. First, the US stated that it supported the AU being a G20 permanent member. The UNSC’s decision to include permanent representation for Africa was “fully supported” by the US, according to the second statement. The first promise can be fulfilled right away if the United States and India can overcome anticipated opposition from the European Union and ASEAN. The second, however, is unclear because UNSC reform won’t happen for several years.
China’s Shadows:
- American efforts to raise their profile in Africa, however, remain sporadic and ineffectual. However, due to its constant diplomacy and substantial economic engagement, China has surpassed the United States as the continent of Africa’s largest trading partner and fourth-largest investor.
Lessons Learned from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC):
- Here, the FOCAC, which was established in 2000, can instruct the US and other nations. The FOCAC is an organisation made up of ministers and leaders from China and Africa. It meets every three years, alternating between Beijing and an African capital. For the purpose of ensuring that FOCAC resolutions are carried out on schedule, China has put in place a thorough interministerial framework.
- The most recent summit, held in Dakar in 2021, endorsed the One-China Principle, the Global Development Initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the idea of “a community with a shared destiny.”
- China’s persistent emphasis on Africa offers an important lesson.
African-Indian relations:
- Strategic relations: India has actively contributed to the efforts to uphold peace and security in Africa through its protracted participation in UN peacekeeping operations. In the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy has successfully escorted more than 2,400 boats while on patrol. The African Union operation in Somalia and the African-led campaign in Mali will both have its support, the country has also pledged.
- Diplomatic ties: India and Africa have formalised their relations since 2008. The India-Africa Forum Summit serves as the primary framework for the ties under the South-South Cooperation platform (IAFS). As of the end of 2022, only 3 summits were anticipated. India announced in 2019 that it would open embassies in 18 African countries to strengthen diplomatic ties.
- Economic Relations: India’s economic relations to Africa began to strengthen in the early 2000s. With total commerce increasing from US$ 6.8 billion in 2003 to US$ 76.9 billion in 2018, India is currently Africa’s third-largest commercial partner.
- Investments: Over the past ten years, Indian investments in Africa have grown dramatically, and the country is currently the continent’s seventh-largest investor. India’s development support to Africa has rapidly increased in scope. Since 2003, India has employed concessional lines of credit (LoC), one of its main instruments for development partnerships, to fund the construction of railway lines, electrification and irrigation projects, and agriculture mechanisation projects, among other things. For 182 African nations, LoC projects totaling about $10.5 billion have received India’s approval.
- Examples of bilateral cooperation include the development of solar energy, discussions of climate change, information technology, cyber security, maritime security, disaster relief, counterterrorism, and military training.
- Humanitarian ties: India provides more than 50,000 scholarships to African students each year as part of the ITEC initiative. Another key asset is the big Indian diaspora. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiative assists Africa in giving its population the opportunity to acquire new skills and information through training programmes.
- Defense and security ties Many African nations make for the IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), which strives to enhance maritime security and safety in the Indian Ocean.
- Working together online: The Pan African e-Network, which was established in 2009, was a groundbreaking initiative to employ Indian IT know-how to enhance healthcare and educational facilities throughout 53 African countries. The second phase of this programme, e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti (e-VBAB), was established with the goal of providing 4,000 African students with free tele-education annually for five years as well as 1,000 African doctors, paramedical workers, and nurses with free medical education.
Continuing: Implications for India:
- Despite the fact that India has a longer history and more riches in Africa than either China or the US, this should not encourage complacency. India has worked diligently to strengthen its political and economic connections with Africa on a continental, regional, and bilateral level over the past 20 years. The Modi government created a distinctive impetus for organising high-level encounters and creating cooperation projects throughout the years 2015–19.
- Since then, COVID-19, the financial crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and border conflicts with China may have contributed to a slowdown. This needs to end immediately.
- By holding the G20 chair, India has the opportunity to ensure that the AU enters the G20 permanently and to strongly represent Africa’s Agenda 2063 for development. India and the U.S. should work together more in Africa.
Conclusion:
- India needs to strengthen its ties with Africa by staying in constant contact and cooperating in areas of common interest. The third summit, which took place in 2015, should not be forgotten, thus the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit should happen in the early months of 2024.
