India & Africa: Working on building a common future

President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Angola and Botswana will deepen India's engagement with Africa. In 2024, she visited Mauritius, Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi. Both Angola and Botswana are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU): Angola is the current chair of the AU. The visit comes against the backdrop of high-level exchanges: The president of Angola visited India in May 2024, while Botswana's president last visited India in December 2006. In in the interim, Indian vice presidents visited Botswana in 2010 and 2018.

- Gurjit Singh

As preparations gather pace for the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV), expected next year, Murmu's trip signals continuity, high-level attention, and strategic outreach to key African partners. Angola is growing in importance globally due to its natural resources, especially oil, gas, and critical minerals vital for energy transitions. With a strategic Atlantic coastline enhancing maritime connectivity, Angola has diversified its partnerships with China, the EU, and India. Ongoing reforms, modernisation, and energy diversification have further strengthened its global economic and diplomatic profile. Indian engagement with Angola has expanded beyond the energy trade to strategic domains such as defence, agriculture, mining, and infrastructure. India has offered a $200-million defence line of credit to Angola. Its investments reflect growing confidence in Angola's reform trajectory and openness to diversified partnerships. Botswana sta