Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi
In a rare occurrence, President Ram Nath Kovind’s forthcoming three-nation visit to Africa includes two countries where India does not have an embassy. The President will pay a state visit to Benin, The Gambia and Guinea. It will be the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state or head of government to the three countries and is part of the concerted thrust by India to the diplomatically untenanted countries of West Africa.
While the Indian embassy in Guinea, closed since 1988, was opened recently, that is not the case with the other two countries that are also in West Africa. India does not have a mission in Benin and the Indian High Commissioner from Lagos is concurrently accredited to it. Similarly, the Indian Ambassador in Senegal is concurrently accredited to The Gambia. India also maintains an Honorary Consulate General in Banjul, The Gambia.
India is in the process of setting up embassies in 18 African countries of which seven are in West Africa, said Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (West) in the MEA. India has been focussing on lines of credit and capacity building in these countries which help it retain its claim as a global spokesperson for the Global South as well as gather voting weight to fulfil its aspirations as a full member of the UNSC.
In line with this approach, India’s reinvigorated outreach with Africa kicked off with the first India-Africa Forum Summit in 2008 followed by two more editions, one in 2015. India is also looking at participating in joint projects with other countries in Africa. It has started a project with Japan to build a hospital in Kenya and plans to partner the UAE for an IT centre in Ethiopia.
