New Delhi to host fourth India-Africa Forum Summit on May 31

• India will host the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) on May 31 in New Delhi in collaboration with the African Union Commission. 

• Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar unveiled the logo, theme and website (www.iafs2026.in) of the IAFS-IV on April 23 in New Delhi. 

What is IAFS?

• The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the apex institutional mechanism for India’s engagement with Africa. 

• It was established in 2008 and covers the entire gamut of inter-State partnerships in political, security, economic, trade, developmental partnership, cultural and people-to-people relationships.

• The Summit has been held three times: IAFS-I in 2008 (New Delhi), IAFS-II in 2011 (Addis Ababa), and IAFS-III in 2015 (New Delhi). 

• The previous edition of the India-Africa Forum Summit resulted in a major expansion of Indian development assistance and capacity building programs for Africa.

• The IAFS is an important platform for fostering dialogue with African countries and the AU Commission and advancing mutually beneficial collaboration, guided by the principles of mutual respect, equality, solidarity and shared prosperity. 

What to expect in IAFS-IV?

• The IAFS-IV will bring together leaders from across the African continent, the African Union Commission, along with representatives from regional organisations to strengthen the enduring India-Africa partnership, and lay out a roadmap for further expanding cooperation across diverse sectors.

• The Summit will be held under the theme ‘IA SPIRIT: India Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, and Inclusive Transformation’, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the India-Africa partnership. 

• In the lead-up to the Summit, a series of preparatory meetings will be held, including the India-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 29, preceded by Senior Officials Meeting on May 28, which will deliberate on key areas of cooperation between India and Africa.

• The upcoming Summit will help to further cement close ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Africa, and to strengthen partnership under the South-South framework. 

• India has expanded its diplomatic footprint in Africa in recent years by opening 17 new missions across the continent, taking the number of Indian missions in Africa to 46.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)