The Widening Scope of Indo-African Relations and Its Challenges

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

The Widening Scope of Indo-African Relations and Its Challenges

Aishwarya Anita Arakal

Abstract- Over the last few decades India’s engagement with Africa has undergone a considerable shift. With Africa emerging as a new growing economy, various sovereign states are vying for the opportunity to partake in this developmental process. This paper aims at understanding how India has integrated herself into the African continent.

Keywords- Africa, engagement, growing economy, opportunity, developmental process, integrated, India

“There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is the bitter truth.”- Chanakya

I. INTRODUCTION

India and Africa have shared long and deep historical ties. The engagement between India and the African countries can be traced to their shared common colonial heritage, common developmental challenges and challenges posed to security by the shared waters of the Indian Ocean.
Over the years there has been a visible shift in India’s engagement with African countries both on the bilateral and regional levels. The regional level shift can be witnessed in the increased dialogues with the regional economic communities and organizations like the Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Economic community of West African States etc. The relationship with the African continent has been institutionalised with the organization of India- Africa Forum Summits. The framework of cooperation adopted at these summits gives an outline for areas of future cooperation between the continent as a whole and India. The continental approach is built on the idea that it will give rise to a commitment that is aimed at the deepening of the process of African integration and recognising the various diversities that individual countries have to offer. Further, India being a champion for alternative energy sources in order to address climate change and also to reduce the dependence on oil imports, has deepened ties with Africa. This shift in the policy is mainly to accommodate India’s growing commercial and strategic interests in Africa while keeping with the traditional policy of empowering Africa.

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