Prioritising Africa, India’s President visits three countries 

Shrimati Droupadi Murmu, President of India, undertook a state visit to three African countries –  Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi – from 13 to 19 October 2024. This was the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to these countries on the African continent. It was viewed as a conscious and well-planned endeavour by New Delhi to signal its continuing interest in strengthening the multidimensional strategic partnership with Africa and to diversify its links with the continent, covering the nations that had remained largely untouched by India’s summit diplomacy in recent years. 

Context 

As a backdrop, it is worth recalling that the Indian government made an exceptional effort to reach out to African nations through high-level visits in the past. Between March 2015 and October 2019, India’s top leaders, namely the President, the Vice President, and the Prime Minister, visited a total number of 34 countries in Africa. This was undoubtedly the highest number of visits before or after that specific period. Its significance was enhanced by India hosting nearly a hundred leaders from Africa who came for bilateral and multilateral engagements during 2014-19. Since then, and especially in the post-COVID era, the frequency of visits has decreased due to several factors, including momentous developments such as the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. The fourth India-Africa Forum Summit, too, could not be held. Hence, President Murmu’s presence for a week in different regions of Africa reflected India’s continuing commitment to forging a mutually beneficial relationship. 

This visit symbolises India’s desire to understand and respond to the needs and interests of the nations of the Global South. A major recent step taken was India's successful push to secure permanent membership of G20 for the African Union (AU). Explaining the visit’s significance, Dammu Ravi, secretary for economic relations in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said that Africa is the core of the Global South, stressing that “Africa is very, very important and very critical for our growth and for the growth of the Global South.” 

Three-nation tour 

The Indian President visited Algeria from 13 to 15 October, Mauritania on 16 October, and Malawi from 17 to 19 October. The format of state visits is well known. Its key elements are bilateral and delegation-level talks with the head of state or government, addressing the parliament wherever possible, interaction with business leaders and members of the Indian Diaspora, and other suitable programmes. 

Algeria is not only the largest country in Africa but also one of the largest economies on the continent. There is a long tradition of close bilateral engagement. The partnership has been marked by the expansion of trade and economic links in recent years. Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Algeria in October 2016, and the Algerian foreign minister visited India in early 2019. 

On arrival in Algiers, the President was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This was a special gesture. Later, the two leaders held discussions based on a full bilateral agenda that focused on strengthening and deepening political, economic, and commercial cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges. Speaking at a business forum, President Murmu called for reinforcing the ongoing cooperation in energy, construction, automobiles, fertilisers, and pharmaceuticals and identifying new areas for collaboration. She encouraged Indian companies to remain engaged and invested in the opportunities offered by the Algerian economy.

“We, in India, see ourselves as a strong development partner of Algeria,” she noted.  

The Indian side made it clear that Algeria had the former’s support in its endeavour to join BRICS. Regarding Western Sahara, India supports mutually acceptable solutions, the efforts made by the UN Secretary-General's special envoy, and the resumption of dialogue between all concerned parties. India enjoys good relations with Morocco and Algeria and remains committed to further strengthening them. 

On arrival at the airport in Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani received the President as a special gesture. Almost the entire cabinet was present. Following official discussions, the two governments signed four agreements relating to holding periodic consultations between the two Foreign Ministries, training of diplomats, visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports, and the cultural exchange programme for the period 2024–28. Besides, two private entities signed an agreement regarding the mining of phosphates in Mauritania. The country has abundant resources, particularly iron, copper, gold, lithium, and phosphate. With the opening of the Indian Embassy in June 2021 and the presidential visit, prospects of expanding cooperation look promising. 

Briefing the media at the visit’s conclusion, A.K. Chatterjee, secretary in MEA, expressed the hope that the visit would motivate more Indian companies and investors to look for new investment and business expansion opportunities. At the same time, India will stay engaged by expanding its development cooperation with the country. 

On reaching Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, the President was received by Vice President Mr. Michael Usi. Fruitful bilateral discussions followed, where the Malawian delegation was led by President Lazarus Chakwera. Four agreements were signed – pertaining to sports, youth matters, pharmaceuticals, and art and culture. Addressing a business event, President Murmu expressed satisfaction at the growing India-Malawi trade and pointed to the complementarity of the two countries’ needs. Malawi is a country rich in natural resources and fertile agricultural land. In contrast, India has a vast consumer base with an increasing demand for energy, minerals, and food for its large population. Hence, both countries can come together to find “synergy” in many areas. Clearly, there is much potential for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, mining, energy, and tourism. 

Conclusion 

Due to a fortunate coincidence, this author was visiting Zambia to deliver lectures on India at two prominent universities in Lusaka, the capital, as the Indian President arrived in neighbouring Malawi on the third leg of her Africa tour. Our interlocutors and other African experts watched the outcome of this critical diplomatic mission with interest. Broadly, they supported the idea that Africa should have multiple partners for its development and that India enjoys a leading place in this category. 

At the same time, some experts expressed the view that India needs to do more. Two specific suggestions were made in this context. First, the Indian government needs to set aside substantial sums of money for investing in Africa’s development projects through Exim Bank, etc., along with new investments by Indian business and industry. Second, India’s corporate players, especially the major groups, need to overcome their lingering negativity about Africa and plunge themselves into a more proactive and potentially beneficial association with Africa. 

As to why they should do so, the answer is simple: Africa is the future. By 2050, every fourth person in the world will be an African. President Murmu made a sterling contribution by emphasizing that, by working more closely and more cooperatively, India and Africa can help themselves as well as the world at large.