Bestowing fresh impetus to India’s
re-invigorated engagement with African countries, Modi has embarked on a
five-day, three-nation visit to Africa on July 23rd. Africa which is
currently basking in global spot light is the venue for 10th BRICS
summit to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa from July 25th to 27th.
Kicking off his first leg of the tour to the African continent, Modi reached
Rwanda, the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister. Reciprocating Modi’s
proactive quantitative and qualitative African outreach, President Paul Kagame
personally received Modi at the airport and extended a warm reception.
Resurgent Africa
Shattering the neo-colonial gloomy
portrayal of Africa as hopeless continent back in 2000, Africa is now flush
with opportunities and exuding rare optimism. Resurgent Africa with booming
middle class is currently a hot bed for economic growth and development. Africa
home to six fastest growing economies in the World is now emerging as a bright
spot for investments and connectivity projects. Breaking past the colonial
legacies and giving major fillip to political and economic resurgence, burying
past economic and political vulnerabilities, in 2015, African Union toyed the
idea of pan-Africanism and adopted the Agenda
2063 vision. The document
marks 100 years of establishment of AU’s predecessor, the Organisation for
African Unity (OAU). It outlined a road map for creating an integrated,
prosperous and strong Africa. Despite numerous challenges, leaders of majority
of the African countries implemented robust macro-economic policies. Stepping
up the pace of economic transformation to ambitiously fulfil the aspirations of
bubbling demographic dividend, African Development Bank in 2016 set an agenda
for development called “High
5s”. These are -Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa,
Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life for the
people of Africa. Having embarked on the economic and development journey
Africa is now seeking partnership with traditional and emerging economies.
Catering to the developmental aspirations of Africa, India has also stepped up
its engagement. In the past four years, India’s diplomatic outreach has
intensified in its scale and speed. In March 2015, Modi visited Seychelles and
Mauritius followed by a four-nation visit to Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and
South Africa in 2016. To strengthen ties with Africa, India held third
Indo-African summit at New Delhi in October 2015 was attended by all African
countries. India has announced a $10 billion Line of Credit for an array of
development projects.
African ties with India and China
Over the years, Indo-African
relations have relied on long standing historical and cultural links,
traditional trade ties and the sizeable Indian diaspora. India strongly
supported Africa’s anti-colonial struggle and anti-apartheid movement. After
India’s independence, India drew closer to African countries and advocated
Asian-African solidarity and the South-South cooperation. Together with African
countries India questioned the global inequalities in political and economic
order. With its limited capabilities, India maintained strong relations with
Africa. In the meanwhile, China with its long economic strides began to cast a
foot print on the continent. It rapid progress in cultivating extensive trade
ties with fledging African countries. Despite being the late comer in the race,
China is now surging ahead. China which established ties with Africa in 1950s
has been expanding ties along four frontiers- Infrastructure, military, natural
resources and aid and loans. China, a leading arms supplier to Africa, a
fortnight ago held China-Africa
Defence Security Forum with senior military heads from 50 African
countries. Beijing is now extending
military training program to African countries and even started a training
centre at Bagamoyo, Tanzania. In a bid to ramp up its global role and influence
in Africa Beijing has contributed troops to International Peacekeeping forces
in Africa. Aside, defence and security cooperation, even the bilateral trade
volume has now crossed the $220 billion mark. While Indo-African bilateral
trade is hovering around $70 billion. Statistics suggest that India is trailing
behind China in Africa and with its limited resources, India can’t compete with
China. While certain strategists rue about India’s failure in building on its
strengths and traditional linkages, another line of argument envisions that
resurgent Africa has capacity to absorb for more players. Amidst the clichés of
the Indo-China competition in the Africa, coincidentally, leaders who are in
Africa to attend BRICS missed crossing their paths by few hours in Rwanda. Kicking
off his African visit, President Xi visited Rwanda, Senegal to rope in the
country under the OBOR. After the BRICS summit at South Africa, he would make a
brief stopover at Mauritius.
Rwanda
Modi’s choice of visiting the
little known, small, land-locked East African country Rwanda has left people
surprised. Rwanda, a former Belgian
colony gained independence in 1962 but the colonial rule sowed seeds of rivalry
between the two tribes Hutus and Tutsi. Cycles of violence have been a common
feature in Rwanda which intensified and triggered a genocide in 1994. In April
1994, the aircraft of moderate Hutu leader, Juvenal Habyarimana returning after
negotiating a peace treaty was shot down sparking a civil war leading to the
death of 8,00,000 people mostly Tutsis. Tutsi tribes, a minority constituted
10% of the population fought against the dominant Hutus which refused to do
anything to contain the killings. Tutsi’s exiled to Uganda and formed the
Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) led by Major Paul Kageme. Launching attacks from across the border they
defeated Hutus in 1994 and soon formed government with a Hutu Pasteur Bizimungu
as President and Kageme as vice-president. After the resignation of President
in 2000, Kageme took over and went to win three consecutive elections in 2003,
2010 and 2017. With a recent constitutional amendment, he is set to remain as
President till 2034.
Since 2000, Rwanda made
substantially progress. Robust economic reforms have been instrumental in extricating
thousands of people from poverty. The country which is now one of the fastest
growing economies still thrives on subsistence agriculture. To help people
break the vicious cycle of poverty torn by the genocide, Kageme launched
Girinka program (meaning one cow per family) in 2006. Cow is considered as
prized possession by Rwandans and is believed to improve the finances of the
family. The money from selling cows milk, bio-gas generation and as an organic manure
alleviated the poverty of people in rural areas. The families who received cows from
government were in turn stipulated to donate calf to the neighbour. Gifting of
cows strengthened bonds between people, brought about reconciliation between Tutsis
and Hutus and successfully healed wounds of civil war. Cows are considered as
best gifts by Rwandans and respecting the sentiments and attachments of people
towards cows, Modi has gifted 200 cows on his visit. This deeply thoughtful
move of Modi is bound to strengthen ties between India and Rwanda.
After the civil war, India and
Rwanda had a defence cooperation in terms of India offering training to Rwandan
troops. Kageme has been zealously working towards poverty alleviation and his
honest governance is hailed by many countries. Rwanda is the least corrupt
country among its neighbours, earned good reputation for complete utilisation
of foreign investments. The country which has unique geographical diversity and
famous for the gorilla trails is now encouraging tourism. Reports indicate that
capital Kigali is one of the cleanest cities in Africa.
Indo-Rwandan Ties
Rwanda, the chair of the African
Union, is gateway to East Africa. It has been instrumental towards the
establishment of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA) which is
already signed by 44 countries. Once ratified, this will be the largest group
after WTO in terms of participating countries. India’s growing economy can
potentially benefit from FTA which can provide access to African markets.
Rwanda also plays a major role in UN Mission in Central African Republic
(MINUSCA). India has elevated bilateral ties to strategic partnership during
Kageme’s visit to India to participate in Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in
2017. Rwanda is also part of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and
ratified the frame work in 2018.
Rwanda home to 12 million people is
on the verge of becoming middle-income country, having picked up a trade-spat
with the US is keen on forging ties with developing economies like India and
China. The East African country which fall in the great lake system after reducing
its dependence on foreign aid, is intent on turning into a technology hub. People
of Indian Origin own some of the major industries. With a sustained interest on
Africa, India announced opening of a high commission to enable consular and
visa facilities at Rwanda soon.
Modi and Kageme reviewed bilateral
ties and signed eight MoUs in defence, trade, dairy cooperation, cultural
exchange, agriculture etc. India announced two $100 million Line of Credit for
development of industrial parks and expansion of SEZ and agriculture. Modi
visited Rweru Model village, donated 200 cows and announced $200,000 to Girinka
program. He contributed $10,000 each to Gisozi Genocide memorial in Kigali and Imbuto
Foundation run by the first lady of Rwanda for girl child education. Modi laid
wreath at the genocide memorial, addressed the India Diaspora and participated
in the India-Rwanda Business Forum.
Indo-Ugandan Ties
From Kigali, Modi travelled to
Kampala where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome. This marks the first bilateral
visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Uganda after I.K. Gujral in 1997. India
and Uganda’s bilateral ties are characterised by historical, traditional and
trade linkages suffered massive set back under Idi Amin Dada who was
anti-India. Current President Museveni overturned Amin’s anti-India policies.
He extended invitation to the Indian community expelled from Uganda by Amin in
1970s. After President Museveni took over in 1986, he revamped Indo-Ugandan
bilateral ties. Uganda is now home to over 30,000 PIOs and NRIs invested over
$1 billion, constitute about 0.1% of Uganda’s 35 million population and
contribute about 60% of country’s direct taxes.
Uganda, currently the chair of East
African community invited Prime Minister Modi to address the Parliament
becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to covet such honour. Modi extolled
Uganda as “Pearl of Africa”, thanked the President for opening state
house for celebration of Diwali and reminisced how India’s freedom struggle is
closely linked to Africa. Modi promised to build Gandhi Heritage Centre at
Uganda’s Jinja, source of Nile where a portion of Gandhi’s ashes were immersed.
He reaffirmed India’s principled support to Africa and pledged to remain proud
partner of Africa. He announced two LoCs $141 million for electric lines and
$64 million for agriculture and dairy production. He outlined that India-Africa
cooperation is guided by 10 principles which includes working towards UN
sustainable development goals, improve agriculture, support digital revolution,
capacity building, adopting clean energy sources, counter terrorism cooperation,
increase global engagement of Africa, working towards democratic global order
and need for freedom of navigation in seas. Without making any reference to
China, Modi indicated that India’s role in Africa would be predicated on
African priorities and not India’s. He pitched India as a benign alternative to
China.
At Indian Community centre,
President Museveni and Modi unveiled the bust of Sardar Vallabhai Patel and
addressed Indian Diaspora. Modi also spoke at meeting organised jointly by
Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU) and Confederation of Indian
Industries (CII). Both leaders held bilateral talks and expressed satisfaction
at the growing progress in defence cooperation. India has set up Indian
Military Training Team in Uganda’s Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka.
Countries asserted the need for greater cooperation in curbing terrorism and
signed four MoUs on Defence Cooperation, exemption for diplomatic and official
passport holders, cultural exchange and material testing laboratory.
India and Uganda engage at three
levels- African Union, bilateral ties and regional economic communities.
Despite the historical links dated back to 16th century, China began
structured engagement in 2000 under President Jiang Zemin and established 50
diplomatic missions. India started this process in 2008 and has 29 embassies.
In line with India’s vision of deepening partnership with Africa, Modi declared
that India will soon open 18 embassies in the continent. While New Delhi is
walking an extra mile to re-energise relations with Africa, it is also aware of
China’s overtures to the continent. India can find new resonance with Africa if
it can bolster quick delivery of projects and enunciate a new vision towards
transforming its economic landscape.
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