Beginning Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu will undertake a six-day state visit to Angola and Botswana with an aim to further India’s partnership with the African continent in areas including defence, trade and energy security.
During the first visit by an Indian head of state to the two countries, Murmu will address their lawmakers and also discuss energy import and critical minerals, issues that assume significance in the context of Delhi’s ties with Washington over the import of Russian oil.
India is also slated to get cheetahs from Botswana in a few weeks and the announcement is likely to be made during the President’s visit to the country, said officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) during a briefing on Thursday.
“The President of India will be paying a state visit to Angola and Botswana from November 8 to 13. This will be the first-ever state visit by an Indian head of state to Angola and Botswana,” said MEA Secretary (Economic Relations), Sudhakar Dalela.
India’s engagement with the African continent is growing and President Murmu’s visit to the two nations should be seen in the larger context of India’s priority in expanding the partnership with the region, he said, adding that India’s trade with the African region is reaching almost $100 billion.
“India’s growing engagement with Africa is also in consonance with the government’s priority of strengthening partnerships with countries in the Global South,” he said.
Murmu will hold bilateral talks with her Angolan counterpart and attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the African nation’s independence. She is also scheduled to address the Angolan Parliament and interact with members of the Indian diaspora in that country.
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Boosting Ties With Global South
Angola is currently holding the chair for the African Union, which comprises 55 member states. It was during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 that the African Union was designated as a member of the influential grouping. In fact, New Delhi has been focusing on strengthening partnerships with countries of the Global South, particularly in Africa. Over 17 new missions have come up in Africa over the past few years.
In May, Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco visited India and extended his invitation to the President for a visit to the African nation.
“Our partnership with Angola from an energy security perspective is critical. We would like to explore ways to build momentum and depth in our partnership in the energy sector,” Dalela said.
President Murmu, during her visit to Botswana from November 11 to 13, will hold bilateral talks with her counterpart Duma Boko. “The two leaders will discuss and explore new avenues to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of investment, technology, energy, agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals, defence and people-to-people ties,” Dalela said.
President Murmu is also scheduled to address the National Assembly of Botswana. “We are also engaging with Botswana for the translocation of Cheetahs to India as part of Project Cheetah,” he said.
