Prime Minister Narendra Modi has elevated India–Africa relations into a robust strategic partnership over the past 11 years of his tenure. Over the last year alone, he has intensified India’s engagement with the continent through a series of high-level visits that have revitalised diplomatic outreach and strengthened developmental cooperation.

The Prime Minister’s ongoing visit to Ethiopia forms a key part of this sustained engagement. His recent visits to South Africa in November, Ghana and Namibia in July, Mauritius in March, and Nigeria in November 2024 also underscore a calibrated strategic outreach under his leadership.

Ethiopia Visit Marks Milestone

During his visit to Ethiopia, Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday highlighted that India and Ethiopia have shared contact, communication and exchange for thousands of years, describing both nations as co-passengers and partners of the Global South, rich in languages, traditions and civilisational values.

Speaking at delegation-level talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at the Ethiopian National Palace in Addis Ababa, PM Modi said that visiting Ethiopia for the first time had filled his heart with immense joy.

“India and Ethiopia are co-passengers and partners of the Global South.”

The visit marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations, with India and Ethiopia elevating ties to a Strategic Partnership and signing multiple agreements to deepen cooperation across sectors such as education, health, artificial intelligence and technology.

South Africa and Ghana Outreach

In November, Prime Minister Modi met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, where both leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in commerce, culture and investment, while expanding collaboration in technology, skilling, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.

During his visit to Ghana in July, PM Modi said that as the world’s largest democracy, India remains a pillar of strength for the Global South amid complex global challenges, reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to Africa’s development journey.

“A strong India will contribute to a more stable and prosperous world,” he said in a historic address to the Parliament of Ghana in Accra.

Namibia and Mauritius Partnerships

In the same month, Prime Minister Modi visited Namibia, where he held high-level talks with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and witnessed the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding in health and entrepreneurship. Namibia also announced its decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

In March, during his visit to Mauritius, PM Modi met Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. Both leaders expressed satisfaction over comprehensive discussions on bilateral relations and noted that their special partnership had gained strategic depth after being elevated to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.

The Mauritian Prime Minister thanked India for assistance in refitting Coast Guard ships Victory, Valiant and Barracuda, while PM Modi reiterated India’s continued support under Vision SAGAR, describing Mauritius as a special maritime partner.

“India’s Africa outreach reflects a calibrated and development-centric foreign policy.”

Nigeria and the Global South

During his visit to Nigeria in November last year, Prime Minister Modi held extensive discussions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and received the country’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

Both leaders underscored long-standing ties rooted in shared historical experiences and discussed expanding cooperation in defence, energy, technology, trade, health and education. President Tinubu acknowledged India’s efforts to amplify the concerns of developing countries through the Voice of the Global South Summits.

Prime Minister Modi’s Africa outreach reflects a calibrated foreign policy approach focused on deepening development cooperation and strengthening the collective voice of the Global South in an evolving geopolitical landscape.