India to Host Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit

India will host the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) in New Delhi from 28 May to 31 May 2026. The summit will be held with the African Union Commission and will bring together leaders and representatives from across the African continent.

India-Africa Forum Summit

The India-Africa Forum Summit is a diplomatic platform for India and African states. The previous summit was held in 2015, and IAFS-IV marks the return of the forum after more than a decade.

Programme and Theme

The theme of IAFS-IV is “IA SPIRIT: India-Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, and Inclusive Transformation.” The programme includes a Senior Officials Meeting on 28 May 2026 and the India-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 29 May 2026.

Areas of Cooperation

The summit agenda covers trade, investment, digital transformation, sustainability, inclusive economic development, agriculture, health, education, climate action, defence, space technology, energy, and critical minerals. A declaration with a roadmap for cooperation is expected to align India’s vision for 2047 with Africa’s Agenda 2063.

Important Facts for Exams

• The African Union Commission is the executive body of the African Union, which has 55 member states.
• Agenda 2063 is the African Union’s long-term development framework adopted in 2013.
• India has increased its resident missions in Africa from 29 to 46 by opening 17 new embassies.
• India’s bilateral trade with African countries reached about US$82 billion in 2024-25.

India-Africa Economic and Development Ties

India has extended over US10 billion in Lines of Credit to more than 40 African countries. India has also provided nearly US700 million in grant assistance to African countries.