New Delhi, May 21 — On Africa Day 2026, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh delivered a keynote at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, underscoring deep historical links and a growing strategic partnership between India and African countries.
Singh spoke to diplomats, high commissioners and policy experts about expanding bilateral cooperation, even as the government announced the postponement of the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) in New Delhi due to an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. Indian authorities consulted with the African Union and its commission before deferring the summit and related events amid global concern after the World Health Organization declared the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Officials identified the Bundibugyo variant as driving the current outbreak; it differs from other Ebola strains in lethality and transmission patterns. In a joint exchange, India and the African Union reiterated their commitment to strengthen public health preparedness and response capacities across the continent, including support for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and national institutions. New Delhi said it stands ready to provide material and strategic assistance to an Africa-led response, and that new dates for the summit will be set through mutual consultations.
Against the backdrop of the temporary postponement, Singh highlighted the longstanding solidarity between India and Africa, rooted in common histories of anti-colonial struggle and shared goals for peace, prosperity and inclusive development. Marking the conference theme, “Africa-India Partnership: Towards a Common Future,” he said the destinies of the two regions are closely linked in an interconnected world and that progress for one-sixth of humanity in India is inseparable from Africa’s advancement.
Describing Africa as the “continent of the future,” Singh pointed to its youthful population and the trade potential unlocked by the African Continental Free Trade Area. He framed India not merely as a partner but as a maritime neighbor across the Indian Ocean, a space of long-standing trade and cultural exchange.
On security, Singh cited India’s tangible contributions to continental stability, including over 5,000 Indian peacekeepers in UN operations and the landmark deployment of the UN’s first all-female police unit in Liberia. He referenced institutional mechanisms such as the India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave and Vision MAHASAGAR to secure shared maritime zones.
Economically, Singh noted India’s position as a major trading and investment partner for Africa, with cumulative investments exceeding USD 80 billion. He highlighted India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme, which grants duty-free access on 98.2 percent of tariff lines for 33 African least-developed countries, and 190 lines of credit worth over USD 10 billion extended to 41 African nations.
Humanitarian and capacity-building ties have also expanded: India has offered more than 70,000 scholarships and training opportunities under programmes like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation initiative, and supplied over 40 million doses of Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines to 42 African countries during the pandemic.
On climate and technology, Singh outlined collaboration between India’s scalable technologies and Africa’s renewable potential via platforms such as the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance. He also noted India’s support for digital public infrastructure: the Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) is being used by 19 African countries to advance digital identity roll-outs.
Geopolitically, New Delhi emphasized its advocacy for stronger African representation on global platforms. During India’s G20 presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured permanent African Union membership in the G20. India also supported the inclusion of Egypt and Ethiopia in BRICS and continues to press for United Nations Security Council reform in line with the Ezulwini Consensus, while valuing African backing for India’s own bid for a permanent Security Council seat.
Looking ahead, Singh said the partnership must focus on youth, education and skills to help shape a more balanced, inclusive and multipolar global order. He announced that New Delhi will host the inaugural International Big Cat Alliance Summit on June 1, 2026, which aims to produce a “New Delhi Declaration on Big Cat Conservation” to guide multinational wildlife protection efforts.
Singh expressed confidence that the dialogue and initiatives discussed would help define a shared future for nearly three billion people across India and Africa.
