India’s growing diplomatic footprint across Africa has marked a new era in engagement, culminating in one of the most defining achievements of its G20 presidency—facilitating the African Union’s inclusion as a permanent member of the Group of Twenty in 2023. This milestone ensured Africa a unified and influential voice in global economic governance.

A report from Johannesburg highlighted that South Africa’s current G20 presidency, the first under Africa’s leadership, builds upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2018 vision of ten guiding principles for India-Africa relations—centred on mutual growth, sustainable partnerships, and shared global responsibility.

A Vision Rooted in Partnership

“The genesis of the AU joining the G20 actually started seven years ago,” the report quoted, “when Modi unveiled India’s ten ‘guiding principles’ for Africa in the Ugandan Parliament.”

These principles place Africa at the heart of India’s development cooperation, focusing on promoting trade and investment, advancing the digital revolution, fostering agricultural cooperation, combating climate change, strengthening maritime security, and advocating for greater African representation in global institutions.

Expanding Diplomatic Presence

India’s diplomatic expansion in Africa has been robust. Since 2018, 17 new Indian missions have opened across the continent — from Burkina Faso and Cameroon to Djibouti and Togo — signalling a long-term commitment to political and economic engagement.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has further consolidated ties through consistent high-level visits, covering over a dozen African nations since 2019. His itineraries have included Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, and Egypt, among others.

High-Level Political Engagement

Prime Minister Modi himself has undertaken multiple African visits, strengthening India’s connections with Uganda, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, Rwanda, Ghana, Namibia, and Tanzania. These visits reflect a deep strategic vision—one rooted in cooperation, mutual respect, and shared progress.