India Africa Relationship

(Relevant for General Studies Paper Prelims/Mains)

India Africa relationship: what new in turmoil

Similar to a distant landlord, Africa is currently voicing its needs on global platforms like BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the G-20, and the United Nations General Assembly. With 54 nations and constituting over a quarter of the “Global South,” the African continent is represented by South Africa in BRICS and the G-20, making it an atypical spokesperson for the entire African region.

Challenges and Disruptions faced by African Countries

• Governance Issues: Many African nations grapple with inadequate governance, rampant corruption, favouritism, and a lack of accountability. These challenges erode the credibility and effectiveness of state institutions, fostering public discontent and mistrust.
• Unplanned Development: Numerous African countries confront the complexities of rapid population growth, urbanization, environmental degradation, and limited resources. Managing these issues demands strategic planning and efficient administration to ensure sustainable progress and societal well-being.
• Ethnic Dominance: Across various African countries, ethnic and tribal diversity prevails, offering both cultural richness and potential conflict. Some ruling tribes or elites tend to monopolize resources and authority, sidelining marginalized groups and fomenting resentment and uprisings.
• Inter-Tribal Conflicts: Conflicts frequently arise between different tribes or communities in many African nations, often over resources like land, water, or livestock. Climate change, droughts, famines, or displacement can escalate these disputes, causing loss of life, property destruction, and humanitarian crises.
• Terrorism Threat: The menace of Islamic extremism and terrorism looms over many African countries, often connected to global networks such as Al-Qaeda or ISIS. These groups exploit local vulnerabilities, recruiting members, launching attacks, and destabilizing regional security and stability.
• Climate Impact: Climate change poses substantial risks to numerous African nations, including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, droughts, desertification, and diseases. These challenges imperil livelihoods, food security, health, and ecosystem resilience.
• Food Inflation: The problem of soaring food prices affects many African nations, driven by supply shocks, demand pressures, market distortions, speculation, or currency depreciation. These factors erode purchasing power, particularly among the impoverished and vulnerable segments.
• Urbanization and Youth Joblessness: Rapid, unmanaged urbanization in multiple African countries leads to issues like slums, overcrowding, pollution, crime, and social isolation. Moreover, large and growing youth populations grapple with high rates of joblessness, underemployment, or informal work, fostering frustration and unrest.
• External Interference: Military interventions by foreign powers, including France, the United States, and Russia’s Wagner Group, often exacerbate rather than mitigate conflicts. These actions often serve to protect economic interests and retain dictatorial regimes, complicating matters.
• Return of Military Rule: In the past decade, military leaders have regained control in countries like Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Meanwhile, Libya and Sudan have experienced internal divisions within their armed forces, resulting in power struggles.
• Regional and Continental Dynamics: Regional organizations play a pivotal role in maintaining stability. However, when member states are governed by military regimes, enforcing democratic norms becomes challenging. This was evident when ECOWAS’s military intervention proposal for Niger faced opposition from Mali and Burkina Faso.
• Shifts in China’s Role: China’s considerable investments in Africa have significantly impacted the continent’s economic growth. Nevertheless, Africa’s overreliance on exporting raw materials to China exposes vulnerability to changes in China’s economic priorities, potentially posing economic difficulties.
• Debt Worries: While China’s Belt and Road Initiative has spurred infrastructure development in African nations, some countries have accumulated substantial debts.
• Geopolitical Tensions: Involvement of global powers in Africa has historical, economic, and geopolitical dimensions. Colonial legacies and economic interests of nations like France, the UK, and the US intersect with Africa, influencing stability and development.
• Economic Hurdles: Downturns in major global economies can restrict their engagement with Africa, affecting aid, investment, and trade relationships. Europe’s focus on addressing illegal migration from Africa has also shaped its interaction with the continent, potentially overshadowing broader developmental concerns.

India’s concern

• Economic Consequences: The instability and insecurity in Africa have reverberations on India’s substantial trade and investment connections with the continent. In the fiscal year 2022-23, trade between India and Africa amounted to USD 98 billion, with India ranking as the fifth-largest investor in Africa.
• Additionally, India extends concessional lines of credit to finance development projects in Africa, disbursing over USD 12.37 billion in concessional loans. Since 2015, India has successfully executed 197 projects and granted 42,000 scholarships.
• Security Implications: India possesses a strategic stake in upholding tranquillity and steadiness in Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa, a critical maritime passage connecting the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. Through its engagement, India participates in peacekeeping initiatives, counter-terrorism endeavours, and the enhancement of capabilities for African security forces. The turbulence experienced in Africa endangers India’s security pursuits and goals, fostering conducive environments for terrorism, piracy, organized crime, and human trafficking.
• Diplomatic Influence: Rooted in shared respect, solidarity, and collaboration, India’s longstanding partnership with Africa holds paramount significance. India is a proponent of African nations’ aspirations for self-sufficiency, democratic governance, and holistic development.
• Moreover, India’s considerable diaspora, comprising around 3 million individuals, contributes to trade, commerce, and professional services within Africa.

What India can do?

• India possesses the potential to utilize its diplomatic sway and positive reputation to back African nations in their pursuit of peace, democratic governance, and comprehensive development. India has the capacity to elevate its trade and investment connections with Africa by extending broader market access, preferential tariff arrangements, and superior goods and services. Additionally, India can amplify its contribution to African development by expanding its development aid, encompassing increased concessional loans, grants, and technical collaboration.

India stands to fortify its security collaboration with Africa by furnishing heightened training, advanced equipment, and intelligence resources to the security forces across the continent. India can invigorate its cooperation in science, technology, and innovation with Africa through a heightened commitment to supporting scientific research and development ventures on the continent. Furthermore, India can play a pivotal role in transferring and adapting technology to Africa by offering cost-effective and suitable solutions that align with the continent’s distinct challenges and opportunities.

Sample Question for UPSC Sociology Optional Paper:

Question 1: What are the key challenges faced by African countries in governance and development?

Short Answer: African countries face multiple challenges including governance issues, rapid population growth, ethnic dominance, unplanned development, and threats from terrorism and climate change.

Question 2: How do Africa’s challenges affect India’s economic and security interests?

Short Answer: Africa’s instability has implications for India’s trade and investment, as well as its security interests in the region, especially in critical maritime passages.

Question 3: What has been India’s economic engagement with Africa in recent years?

Short Answer: India has trade and investment connections with Africa amounting to USD 98 billion and has extended over USD 12.37 billion in concessional loans for development projects.

Question 4: What are the security implications for India concerning Africa’s turmoil?

Short Answer: Instability in Africa could jeopardize India’s security pursuits, offering environments conducive to terrorism, piracy, organized crime, and human trafficking.

Question 5: How can India utilize its diplomatic influence to aid in Africa’s development?

Short Answer: India can extend broader market access, preferential tariff arrangements, increase development aid, and bolster its security collaboration with African nations.

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