The Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) will take place in New Delhi from 28–31 May 2026. It is a good time to assess Africa’s summitry and how India compares with Africa’s other partners in terms of intention and outcome.
Africa has long hosted summits with its external partners – 11 so far (see chart) – but some are more important than others, viz. Japan, China, the EU and India. France was the first country to host one, followed by Japan. The first Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) took place in Tokyo in October 1993. Over 33 years, nine such events were held, the last being in Yokohama in August 2025.
China began its high-level diplomacy with the ministerial conference known as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with the first conference held in Beijing in October 2000. Several African presidents attended it. The ninth iteration took place in September 2024.
The European Union (EU)-African Union (AU) summits began in Cairo in April 2000. In 25 years it held seven summits, the last one being in Luanda, Angola, in November 2025.
India was late in joining the party. It was only at the beginning of the 21st century that New Delhi began taking several initiatives concerning Africa and subsequently launched the summit programme.
The below chart is the timeline of summits between Africa and its partner countries
The following table gives an overview of the major Africa–partner summits
Source: Compiled from summit websites, joint declarations, and official press statements [1]
The first India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-1) was held in New Delhi in April 2008. This was followed three years later by the second summit held in Addis Ababa in May 2011. Both conferences took place with limited African participation, as determined by the Banjul Formula.[2] This was a formula adopted by the AU in 2006, in which the AU would choose 15 African leaders, including the heads of the continent’s five regions, to attend summits.
In 2019, India reaffirmed that its engagement with Africa is comprehensive and multi-dimensional and at the IAFS-III moved away from the Banjul formula and adopted an inclusive approach by inviting the heads of all 54 African countries.[3] Abandoning the formula was widely welcomed by the continent,[4] and other countries too ignored it. This led to the AU leaving the door open for all leaders to attend summits such as FOCAC and TICAD.
So far, India has still held only half as many summits as Africa’s other summit partners.
The three IAFS (2008, 2011, 2015) have successfully institutionalised and elevated India-Africa ties. After the third summit, there was a consistent approach to develop and diversify cooperation with African countries. During 2014–2019, nearly 100 African leaders visited India on various missions.[5] In August 2024, the MEA extended its Lines of Credit to 68 countries and increased it to $32 billion.[6] The education aspect is significant; during IAFS-III (2015), India committed 50,000 training and scholarship slots over five years. By the 2019 mid-term review, over 40,000 slots had already been utilised.[7] The upcoming summit will further cement those linkages.
The following tables break down each summit, along with their scope and outcomes.
The First India-Africa Forum Summit, held in New Delhi in April 2008, was a landmark event. It created, for the first time, an interaction between India and Africa. Its primary purpose was to reinvigorate and redefine the decades-old partnership[10] on a more equal and mutually beneficial footing. The summit covered a wide range of sectors, including agriculture and food security, science & technology, higher education, health, infrastructure, trade & industry, peace and security, and climate change. It also laid special emphasis on education and capacity building by announcing the C.V. Raman International Fellowship for African researchers and several academic exchange programmes, many of which continue to remain active to date.
IAFS-II 2011 outcomes[11]
The Second India-Africa Forum Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May 2011, built upon the foundation of the inaugural summit. It deepened most of the initiatives proposed in 2008, while further expanding the scope of the partnership
The summit adopted the Addis Ababa Declaration and the Africa-India Framework for Enhanced Cooperation, along with a comprehensive Joint Plan of Action. It placed greater emphasis on finance, economic cooperation, agriculture and health.
IAFS-III 2015 outcomes[12]
The Third India-Africa Forum Summit, held in New Delhi in October 2015, focused on stepping up the intensity of the India-Africa partnership. The emphasis was on strengthening the partnership and making it effective, result-orientated, and action-driven.
The outcomes were a mix of old and new intentions.[13] While the summit carried forward several initiatives from previous summits, such as infrastructure development, energy and power collaboration, and education and exchange programmes, it also introduced new focus areas, including the blue economy, greater emphasis on tele-education, and stronger multilateral engagement, particularly regarding UNSC reform.
The document also mentioned space technologies, but the focus was vague and underemphasised. Overall, the summit gave renewed momentum to economic engagement.
Mid-Term Review of IAFS III 2019[15]
The Mid-Term Review Meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Framework of the Africa-India Forum Summit III took place in New Delhi, India, from September 11-12, 2019. The meeting comprised representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs, India, a Delegation from the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and representatives of the African Diplomatic Corps, including the IAFS Committee in New Delhi, India. The meeting deliberated on the preparations for the IAFS IV to be held in 2020. Both sides underlined the need for early engagement to prepare for the next IAFS IV Summit.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Africa in healthcare and its economy.[18][19] India came to the rescue, being a leader in providing vaccines. India provided 150 tonnes of medical aid to 25 African countries as well as supplied 24.7 million doses of Made-in-India COVID vaccines as grants and commercial and COVAX supplies to 42 countries in Africa.[20] This reflected the health cooperation through the export of affordable low-cost generics, building of health infrastructure, providing aid and technical assistance, and hosting medical and research students and professionals.
Simultaneously, trade also picked up speed, from $66.6 billion in 2019 in bilateral trade to $89.5 billion. The outward foreign direct investment from India to Africa increased from $1. 8 billion in 2019 to $3.7 billion in 2021.[21]
India’s focus on Africa saw a landmark development when, during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, the AU was admitted as a full permanent member of the G20. Although this was supported by all countries, it was driven by India’s strong advocacy and effort, marking a historic milestone in India-Africa relations.
The fourth Summit is taking place after an 11-year gap, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current context is equally daunting, with the war in the Gulf, in Europe and in several places in Africa, reflecting the challenges. Nevertheless, there are high expectations that IAFS-IV will inject fresh momentum into the partnership and deliver concrete outcomes.
Rajiv Bhatia is the Distinguished Fellow for Foreign Policy Studies and a former ambassador.
Raveena Shivashankar is the Digital Media Associate, Gateway House.
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References:
[1] France-Africa Summit
Nkafu Policy Institute. “The African-France Summit and an Overview of Its Recommendations Since 1973.” https://nkafu.org/the-african-france-summit-and-an-overview-of-its-recommendations-since-1973/
Africa Forward Summit. Africa Forward Summit. https://africaforwardsummit.go.ke/
TICAD
Tokyo International Conference on African Development. “TICAD’s History.” https://www.ticad8.tn/content/2/ticads-history
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. “Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).” https://www.mofa.go.jp/af/af1/pagewe_000001_00054.html
AU-EU Summit
European External Action Service. “Looking Back at Key Moments over 25 Years of AU-EU Partnership.” https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/looking-back-key-moments-over-25-years-au-eu-partnership_en
Council of the European Union. Joint Declaration of the African Union-European Union Summit. Brussels: European Council, 2022. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/5tdhb1f4/joint-declaration_au-eu-summit.pdf
Council of the European Union. “EU–African Union Summit, 24–25 November 2025.” European Council. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2025/11/24-25/
FOCAC
Forum on China–Africa Cooperation. “Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.” http://www.focac.org/eng/ljhy_1/dyjbzjhy_1/CI12009/
India-Africa Forum Summit
India-Africa Forum Summit. “About.” https://www.iafs2026.in/about/
Embassy of India, Addis Ababa. Joint Press Statement: Mid-Term Review of India-Africa Forum Summit III. Addis Ababa, 2019. https://eoiaddisababa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FINAL-Joint-Press-Statement-Mid-Term-Review-of-IAFS-III-12092019.pdf
Africa-Turkey Summit
Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Türkiye and the African Union.” https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye-and-the-african-union.en.mfa
Korea-Africa Summit
African Development Bank. “2024 Korea-Africa Summit.” https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/events/2024-korea-africa-summit-71032
Italy-Africa Summit
Italian Institute for International Political Studies. “The Mattei Plan after the Addis Ababa Italy-Africa Summit.” https://www.iai.it/en/publications/c05/mattei-plan-after-addis-ababa-italy-africa-summit
[2] Institute for Security Studies. “How to Rationalise Africa’s Many Partnerships.” PSC Insights. https://issafrica.org/pscreport/psc-insights/how-to-rationalise-africas-many-partnerships
[3] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. “Question No. 451: Relooking India’s Africa Policy.” Rajya Sabha. https://www.mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/31002/QUESTION+NO451+RELOOKING+INDIAS+AFRICA+POLICY
[4] Gateway House. “Key Developments in India’s Approach to Africa.” Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. https://www.gatewayhouse.in/key-developments-indias-approach-africa/
[5] ibid (reference no. 4)
[6] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. “Lines of Credit for Development Projects.” https://www.mea.gov.in/Lines-of-Credit-for-Development-Projects.htm
[7] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. “India-Africa Bilateral Documents.” https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/31819
[8] Embassy of India, Addis Ababa. “Delhi Declaration: India-Africa Forum Summit 2008.” https://eoiaddisababa.gov.in/delhi-declaration-india-africa-forum-summit-2008/
[9] India-Africa Forum Summit. “India-Africa Framework for Cooperation 2008.” Accessed May 14, 2026. https://www.iafs2026.in/document/india-africa-framework-for-cooperation-2008/
[10] Bhatia, Rajiv. India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons. New Delhi: Routledge India, 2022.
[11] India-Africa Forum Summit. “Africa-India Framework for Enhanced Cooperation.” https://www.iafs2026.in/document/africa-india-framework-for-enhanced-cooperation/
[12] India-Africa Forum Summit. India-Africa Framework for Strategic Cooperation. 2026. https://deviafs.negd.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/India-Africa-Framework-for-Strategic-Cooperation.pdf
[13] ibid (reference no. 10)
[14] Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme. “Member States Overview.” https://tttfp.org/member-states-overview/
[15] ibid (reference no. 7)
[16] African Union. “African Continental Free Trade Area.” https://au.int/en/african-continental-free-trade-area
[17] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. “Official Launch of eVidyaBharti and eArogyaBharti Project by External Affairs Minister.” October 9, 2019. https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/31928/Official+Launch+of+eVidyaBharti+and+eArogyaBharti+Project+by+External+Affairs+Minister+October+09+2019%20
[18] German Institute for Global and Area Studies. “Africa after the COVID-19 Lockdowns: Economic Impacts and Prospects.” https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/publications/giga-focus/africa-after-the-covid-19-lockdowns-economic-impacts-and-prospects
[19] World Trade Organization. “The Effect of COVID-19 on the Economies of Africa.” In Strengthening Africa’s Capacity to Trade, chapter 2. Geneva: WTO, 2021. https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/strengthening_africas_ch_02_the_effect_of_covid_19_on_the_economies_of_africa_e.pdf
[20] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. “India Supplies Medicines to African Countries.” April 2020. https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/32675/India_supplies_medicines_to_African_Countries
[21] United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. “COVID-19 Slashes Foreign Direct Investment in Africa by 16%.” June 18, 2020. https://unctad.org/news/covid-19-slashes-foreign-direct-investment-africa-16