Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
मनोहर पर्रिकर रक्षा अध्ययन एवं विश्लेषण संस्थान

Act Africa – A Case for Soft Diplomacy

Swaim Prakash Singh
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Introduction

India’s engagement with Africa, especially at a time when the partner region’s geopolitical and geo-economic situation is changing, deserves serious consideration. Africa is increasingly being viewed as a land of opportunity and promises, not a region of conflict and poverty as before.1 The assertive approach and a wave of reassurance by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the African polity and leadership could be seen during the third India-Africa Forum Summit hosted at New Delhi in 2015. Unlike the previous approach of the Banjul formula, under which only a few African countries participated in the summit, the 2015 event was highly subscribed by the heads of state was the indication of well-crafted international diplomacy and commerce. Participation of all 54 countries including Heads of State of 40 countries did give an indication that Africa considered India as its natural partner. The multilateral summit gave India an opportunity to engage with every country in the continent. It is imperative for India to cement its spadework by consistent efforts.

More concentration on the soft diplomatic efforts with greater emphasis on people to people connects and carrying out capacity building where people matter should be the focus of the government. Soft diplomacy through regular and assertive visits by top functionaries of the nation namely the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister is the best strategy to enhance relations with African countries. In this context the visits by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, to some countries in March-April 2018 is significant.

In March 2018, the President of India paid a significant visit to two historically friendly countries of Madagascar and Mauritius. This was followed by visits to three more African countries namely Equatorial Guinea, Swaziland and Zambia. It is not a coincidence that all his visits have been to Africa; for they reflect the importance given to Africa in Indian foreign policy. It also reflects President Kovind’s personal commitment to that relationship.2

The Presidential Visits: An Analysis

March 2018

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was on a six-day official visit to island nations of Mauritius and Madagascar from March 11, 2018.3 The two countries share a rich common heritage. Bilateral relations have strengthened considerably in recent years as part of India’s growing engagement with Africa.4 The President’s first overseas tour of the year to Mauritius and Madagascar however, were significant as the country is reaching out to the Indian Ocean countries and tapping its diasporic ties. These visits of President Kovind held lot of significance as Mauritius and Madagascar are located in Indian Ocean, a region where China has been increasing its naval presence in recent times. India, which now perceives the Indian Ocean region as its area of dominance, knows it has to strengthen ties with member countries, especially the island nations, which can so easily succumb to China and its deep pockets. The Indian advantage over China in this region is the cultural, historic and diasporic connect.

Visit to Madagascar

Kovind was also the first president from India to ever visit Madagascar, and the country marked this occasion by bestowing him with its highest honour to a non-citizen the Grand Cross of the Second Class. Striking strong bond with Madagascar, President Kovind reiterated India’s affection and feeling for the country is symbolic of the shared aspirations for Africa and for the Indian Ocean Region.

More importantly, he handed a USD 80.7 million Line of Credit for agriculture and mechanisation to Madagascar. The President also inaugurated a centre for geo-informatics application in rural development that has been created with assistance from India. India and Madagascar signed an umbrella agreement in the field of defence wherein, both the countries will explore various ways of co-operation in the field of defence. A significant development was signing a MoU for amended air service agreement for improving connectivity between the two countries.

Visit to Mauritius

In Mauritius, the President was the chief guest at the island nation’s golden jubilee of independence celebrations, a high honour. He also inaugurated the World Hindi Secretariat building as well as laid foundation stones for two important, India-aided projects – a social housing scheme and an ENT hospital.5India announced a new USD 100 million Line of Credit for defence procurement by Mauritius. India will also supply a Multi-Purpose Offshore Patrol Vessel to Mauritius under this Line of Credit. The other agreements/memorandum of understanding (MoUs) signed include an MoU on cooperation between Nalanda University in Bihar and Mauritius; an MoU between the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India and the Public Service Commission of Mauritius; an MoU on the establishment of an Ayurveda Chair at the University of Mauritius and an agreement to facilitate cultural exchanges between the two countries.

He also succeeded in connecting with Indian diaspora and youth of the country through his well thought-out speeches. He conveyed that India sees Mauritius as central to the emerging institutional architecture of the Indian Ocean Region and we want to sail together, and sail far, in these majestic waters. Our aspiration is for Mauritius to rise as a leading economy and a voice for peace and stability in the entire Indian Ocean Region.6

April 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind embarked on week-long visit to three African countries, the energy-rich Equatorial Guinea, Swaziland and the copper-rich Zambia from 7-13 April 2018. This can be seen as part of the government’s efforts to refashion and consolidate ties with Africa.

Visit to Equatorial Guinea

Visit to Equatorial Guinea, situated along Africa’s Atlantic coast marks the first ever visit by an Indian head of state or government to these countries. India’s relationship with Equatorial Guinea is dominated by strong partnership in the oil and gas sector. Equatorial Guinea is the fourth largest supplier of natural gas to India.

The first ever visit of a Head of State from India to Equatorial Guinea, symbolised the desire of both parties to reinforce the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation existing between the two countries. Both countries acknowledged the excellent long standing bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening existing ties. They reviewed areas of cooperation in oil and gas, mining and geology, health, agriculture and fisheries, and capacity building. In the spirit of the reinforcing the cooperation between the two countries, the MOU on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine, cooperation in the field of Medicinal Plants and action plan on cooperation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) were signed.7

Apart from great potential in expansion of bilateral trade relations including agriculture, energy, mining and ICT, a major thrust area identified was harnessing renewable energy resources, with the two heads of state expressing satisfaction at the establishment of the International Solar Alliance at the Founding Conference and Summit held in March, 2018 at Delhi. India also offered to set up an Entrepreneurship Development and Vocational Training Centre and an English Language Training Laboratory in Equatorial Guinea, signifying India’s desire to contribute to capacity building and training. Government of India’s decision to open a resident Diplomatic mission in Malabo was received very passionately by the hosts.

Visit to Swaziland

The maiden state visit of any President of India to Swaziland too could be seen as a contribution to soft diplomatic efforts. Though only two bilateral MoUs on cooperation in health sector and for exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic/service passports were formalised, yet this visit did strike a chord for a new beginning of bilateral relations between the two countries.

India has taken the right steps in choosing to construct select infrastructure of monumental nature in Swaziland. While addressing a joint sitting of the Swaziland Parliament, President Kovind announced that India would support construction of the new Parliament building of Swaziland through technical and financial assistance. This announcement was warmly received by the members of parliament.

India’s initiative of providing more number of educational scholarships, drugs helping the fight against HIV-AIDS, expansion of renewable energy infrastructure and setting up 20 solar charging stations in various low-electricity access areas of Swaziland does speak of India’s effort to help benefit the masses of the country. The inauguration of the Information Technology Centre built through a concessional credit-line of USD 20 million from the Government of India to the Government of Swaziland, providing new credit-line of USD 10.4 million to help establish a Disaster Recovery Site, donation of 500 blankets to the charitable initiatives and NGO, opening of a resident Indian diplomatic Mission in Swaziland and offering to reciprocate with a similar mission in New Delhi in the near future8 can be seen as major achievement of this visit.

Visit to Zambia

India and Zambia are time-tested friends; the friendship is built on the strong foundation of bilateral trade and economic engagements. Development partnership and economic cooperation are key pillars of India-Zambia relations. That the bilateral relations have prospered is evident from the fact that India is one of Zambia’s largest trading partners. This Presidential visit was more a trip for consolidation and signified the wish for constant engagement.9

Based on the background of commerce, economics and trade, India emphasised on the need for opportunities for its businesses to explore in the fields of social enterprise to new technology; from community projects to highways; and from “Digital India” to “Smart Zambia”. As part of a global cause, the common agenda for both the countries was the Solar Alliance. President Kovind expressed appreciation for Zambia having signed the International Solar Alliance agreement and looked forward to early ratification of the agreement from the Zambian side.

The mutual agreements in form of MoUs were of routine nature- double taxation avoidance, judicial cooperation, mutual visa waivers for officials and diplomats and of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute that India proposes to build in Zambia. The highlight of the visit was commencement of work on the 93-km Lusaka Traffic Decongestion Project. The Lusaka Traffic Decongestion Project has received substantial financial support from the government of India and is being executed by an Indian company, AFCONS Infrastructure.10

Conclusion

New Delhi has been trying to drive a foreign policy agenda in Africa underscored by people-to-people and business-to-business exchange. This comes as a complement to India’s growing diplomatic investments in Africa. In the past four years, India’s top leaders visited 25 African countries. Though less in number when compared with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 79 visits to 43 African countries in the last 10 years, a change is in the wind with India’s recent announcement to expand its presence in the continent from 29 to 47 embassies by 2021.11

In totality, the presidential visits in the first half of the year 2018 could be termed as a success, especially with Equatorial Guinea and Swaziland. The President being felicitated with the highest civilian honour of these two countries and the timing of the visit of President especially to Swaziland has put the India’s firm commitment towards Africa to the fore. The visit to Zambia could be termed as another meaningful trip for trade and commerce. The visit to Mauritius and Madagascar was an ideal example of a successful engagement by connecting with diaspora and youth of the host nations. Here too, the President was honoured with highest civilian honour.

The President’s visits could be seen as a well-crafted soft diplomatic approach and is a good start in such direction. The diplomatic efforts towards the sustenance of bilateral relations must go on with full speed, vision and actionable commitments in the future too.

Wing Commander Swaim Prakash Singh is a research scholar and is currently posted at Joint Control and Analyses Center (JCAC), a joint setup of the Indian Air Force and Airport Authority of India”

Keywords: Africa, Cultural Diplomacy
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