India Positioning Itself As a Major Player In Africa

Ruchita Beri is a leading scholar and commentator on African Studies. She is currently Senior Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation. In a career spanning over three decades, she has coordinated the Africa Centre at MP-IDSA, served as President of African Studies Association of India, member of CII’s Africa Committee and Editor of Africa Trends, a bi- annual magazine on Africa.

French Military Presence in Africa

• Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have terminated or plan to terminate defense agreements with France.
• G5 Sahel group (Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mauritania) initially supported by France, now rejecting French presence.
• France’s intervention (2013–2022) failed to stabilise the region or curb terrorism.

Reasons for Declining French Influence

• Failure to deliver on security objectives; terrorism persists in the Sahel.
• Economic issues: Poverty, corruption, and underdevelopment remain unresolved.
• Local dissatisfaction with perceived neo-colonialism and resource exploitation by France.
• Increasing preference for alternative partners like Russia, China, and India.

Geopolitical Shifts in the Sahel

• Russia’s Wagner Group entering Mali and other regions as France exits.
• Countries exploring partnerships with the Global South (e.g., India, UAE, Turkey) for economic and security support.
• Criticism of “Francafrique” policies for perpetuating dependence and stifling sovereignty.

Impact of Libya’s Fall (2011)

• Arms trafficking and mercenary migration destabilised the Sahel.
• Rise of terror groups like ISIS-linked factions and Boko Haram.
• Ongoing instability linked to poor governance and ethnic conflicts.

India’s Role in Africa

• Long-standing trade and maritime ties, with economic cooperation dating back centuries.
• Recent defence and maritime partnerships with Kenya, Tanzania, and others.
• Focus on capacity building, disaster response, and piracy mitigation in the Indian Ocean.
• Growing interest in supporting Africa’s development and security priorities.
• India’s trade with Africa has deep historical roots, dating back to the first century A.D., facilitated by Indian Ocean trade routes.
• Post-independence, India developed close economic relations with African nations, with trade volumes nearing $100 billion.
• Major trading partners include South Africa and Nigeria, though oil imports from Nigeria have declined.
• India is increasingly focusing on infrastructure, agriculture, and technology investments in Africa.
• India’s military collaboration emphasises capacity building rather than direct intervention.
• Maritime security is a key area, with India assisting African nations in surveillance, anti-piracy operations, and disaster response.
• The Indian Navy has been active in the Gulf of Aden since 2008 to combat piracy and ensure safe trade routes.

India: Recent Partnerships

• Kenya: Cooperation on maritime security and economic development.
• Tanzania: Enhanced defense ties following high-level talks in 2023.

Maritime Interests and Challenges

• Africa’s coastal nations lack strong naval capabilities; India provides training and technical support for Coast Guards and naval forces.
• Rising piracy and security threats in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have renewed India’s focus on maritime security.
• The instability impacts 90% of India’s trade passing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

Global South Partnerships

• India is positioning itself as a partner aligned with African nations’ development and sovereignty goals.
• African nations view India as a reliable alternative to Western powers, prioritising equitable and demand-based collaborations.
• India’s partnerships focus on supporting African development priorities rather than imposing neo-colonial influence.

Future Prospects

• India’s interest in Africa is likely to grow, leveraging historical ties and shared Global South identity.
• Potential areas of collaboration include renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare, and agriculture.
• India aims to deepen its presence in Africa while respecting the continent’s sovereignty and development needs.

Challenges Ahead

• Continued instability in the Sahel despite changes in partnerships.
• Uncertainty over whether new alliances can effectively address security and development needs.