India Offers Consultative and Cooperative Assistance to Africa, says Amar Sinha
May 17, 2017
New Delhi: Underlining security and economy as the driving imperatives of India’s present outreach to Africa, Shri Amar Sinha, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, today said that India believes in offering a consultative and cooperative model of assistance to Africa.
Shri Sinha was delivering a key note address at the round table discussion on ‘Africa’s Security Challenges’, organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), in collaboration with the African Studies Association of India, to commemorate Africa Day.
Speaking on India’s role in Africa, Shri Sinha said that the country has chosen to be Africa’s partner in development, focusing more on building capacities for the African countries. India provides technical assistance and training in soft skills, he added.
Highlighting some of the major security issues in Africa, Shri Sinha said that internal political disturbances that plague many African nations, is one of the main causes of instability in Africa. Piracy and oil bunkering, drug trafficking, terrorism and natural disasters were other important security challenges highlighted by Shri Sinha that have adversely affected Africa.
Describing terrorism as another major threat, Professor Ajay Dubey of Jawaharlal Nehru University observed that terrorism in Africa is not a local problem but has global dimensions.
Speaking on the occasion, His Excellency Nainkoro Yeah Samake, Ambassador of Republic of Mali highlighted the phenomenon of transnational crime as a source of insecurity in Africa. He further pointed out that there are several positive lessons to be learnt from African experiences of conflict resolution.
His Excellency Nejmeddine Lakhal, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia opined that since Africa is home to the largest population of the youth in the world, building their capacities and providing meaningful employment to them is critical for Africa’s security in the future.
Concluding the discussion Shri Jayant Prasad, Director General IDSA said that considering the similarities of challenges in Africa and India, the partners can learn from each other’s experiences and, together, strive for a better future for their peoples.
