India and Africa: Renewing a Partnership for a Shared Future

As India and Africa prepare to convene for the 4th India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) on 31 May 2026, the occasion offers an important opportunity not only to reflect on the progress achieved over the years, but also to shape a more ambitious agenda for shared growth, resilience, and inclusive development. Since its launch in 2008, the India–Africa Forum Summit has evolved into a unique platform bringing India and African nations together at the highest political level. More than a forum for dialogue, it has become an effective mechanism for translating political goodwill into practical cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education, digital transformation, capacity building and other sectors. Since the previous Summit in 2015, India and Cameroon have further strengthened bilateral ties through the establishment of resident diplomatic missions in New Delhi and Yaoundé. Over the past decade, India–Africa relations have continued to deepen through sustained bilateral engagement, development cooperation, and regular high-level consultations. Even amid unprecedented global challenges, this relationship has remained resilient, dynamic, and forward-looking. Beyond multilateral engagement, India’s cooperation with African partners continues to deliver tangible developmental outcomes at the bilateral level. Cameroon’s collaboration with India offers a compelling example of development-oriented cooperation focused on improving livelihoods, strengthening infrastructure, and building local capacities. Key initiatives supported through the EXIM Bank of India include rice and maize plantation projects, the cassava plantation project, and two electricity transmission lines linking Nkongsamba to Bafoussam and Yaoundé to Abong Mbang. India’s engagement with Cameroon has also expanded into innovation, skills development, renewable energy, and rural livelihoods through initiatives involving institutions such as UNESCO, GIZ and FAO. These efforts include advanced agricultural technologies, renewable energy solutions for rural communities, and support for key agricultural value chains. Human resource development remains an important pillar of cooperation, with 180 annual training slots offered under the ITEC programme, alongside humanitarian assistance extended in support of flood relief efforts in the Far North Region. At the multilateral level, India has consistently advocated for stronger African representation in global governance. A defining achievement during India’s G20 Presidency was the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20—an important step toward ensuring that Africa’s priorities receive the global attention they deserve. Against this backdrop, the 4th India–Africa Forum Summit represents not a new beginning, but the continuation of an evolving and dynamic relationship. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi observed during an earlier Summit, “This is not a new journey, nor a new beginning, but a new promise of a great future for an ancient relationship.” The theme of this year’s Summit—India–Africa: Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience and Inclusive Transformation (IA-SPIRIT)—captures the essence of this shared vision. It reflects an engagement increasingly focused on innovation, sustainability, resilience, and...