India and the African Union have postponed the India-Africa Forum Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from May 28-31, due to concerns about the spread of the Ebola virus. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not specifically specify the reasons for the postponement but said new dates for the summit would be decided after consultation with African countries.
Joint Press Release On the India–Africa Forum Summit IV
1. The Government of the Republic of India and the African Union have been working closely on the convening of the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV), initially scheduled to take place in New Delhi from 28–31 May… pic.twitter.com/uICseX6xlD
— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) May 21, 2026136 people died in Congo
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a public health emergency of international concern. More than 136 people have now died from the outbreak in this African country.
India had planned to present plans at the summit to strengthen its ties with the African continent. Top leaders of several African countries had already confirmed their participation.
What did foreign ministry?
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and the African Union exchanged views on the evolving health situation in parts of Africa. They agreed on the need to continue cooperation to strengthen public health preparedness and response capacities. This includes supporting the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health institutions in other countries. The Africa CDC is an independent continental health agency of the African Union.
India’s focus on expanding its presence in Africa
Following these consultations, both sides agreed that it would be better to hold the India-Africa Forum Summit at a later date. The upcoming summit aims to bring about a major transformation and strengthening of India-Africa relations. India’s development partnership policy has been based on African priorities and local ownership. New Delhi is also focusing on expanding its presence in Africa.
Since 2018, India has expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa by opening 17 new missions, taking the total number to 46.
