India’s ‘Africa Moment’ and the Geopolitics of the Global South

India’s pitch for the inclusion of the African Union (AU) within the G20 has been projected as a major breakthrough. The G20 as a grouping represents the hopes and aspirations of the states which run the global economy. As a forum, it is meant to set certain standards based on which international trade must be conducted. Apart from this it deliberates upon the reform of multilateral institutions and talks about the quantitative and qualitative aspects underpinning developmental assistance. It is very surprising then that the African Union, which consists of 55 states, was not up until recently a part of this economic grouping. Africa is the second largest continent in the world and its population as a whole exceeds the population of China as well as India. It has a large youth population which is a crucial demographic dividend.

However, the ground reality within the African Union states, divulged multiple faultlines,  constant ethnic conflict, non-existent governance framework and regular outbreak of epidemics, whichtook a major toll on the lives of the people. In popular discourse, Africa was emblematic of varying perceptions. Its epithet being the ‘Dark Continent’ it was treated as a land filled with mystery and a bounty of natural resources. In the 19^th century the European powers engaged each other in a ‘Scramble for Africa’ to carve out a piece of this precious landmass.

The decolonization phase has not changed much and that erstwhile relationship of dependence has acquired a new form. However, it must be remembered that the problems facing the African states cannot be put under one bracket. While the imitation and failure of the Western model of democracy has stymied the growth of Liberia, undue interference of foreign powers was the bane for Congo. In recent years, the perilous migration from Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean has caught the imagination of the world.

This has given rise to newer debates within European politics marked by the ascendancy of right-wing parties within the continent. The mercurial rise of China on the world stage has been another point of concern. China’s naval base in Djibouti or the way in which the influx of cheap Chinese goods has ravaged the local economies in many of these states point towards these tensions. Apart from this, the presence and active collaboration between the Wagner Group and many dictatorial regimes in West African states has become anissue of concern for ex-colonial powers like France. This reminds one of the civil war in Angola at the height of the Cold War where the superpowers were directly engaged in a proxy war.

India’s G20 Presidency and its constant advocacy for the African states must be situated in this context. Its aspiration to emerge as the face of the Global South is directly linked to this active diplomacy. The expansion of the BRICS, despite being agreed to by all the original members, pointed towards a few contradictions. The inclusion of some of the major states like Argentina, Egypt and Iran had the active backing of two of the greater powers that is China and Russia. Thus, when it comes to the reform of some of the most crucial multilateral institutions that is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) such a huge number of claimants could hamper New Delhi’s prospects.

The situation is further complicated when one notes the presence and aspirations of some of the rising African states, like South Africa and Nigeria. In recent times, many statesmen from Africa have openly denounced the possibility of there being a single ‘voice of the Global South’. The war in Ukraine pointed towards further contradictions. The rise in the prices of food, fuel and fertilizer has had major ramifications for these fragile economies. The war also pointed towards dissonance within the AU as well. While some statesmen went to Ukrainian towns and cities to pay respect to the victims of war another delegation went to attend the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.

New Delhi’s adept diplomatic posturing could not have come at a more opportune moment. The AU provided further impetus to such a movement by hosting the ‘Voice of Africa Summit’ just before the G20. By securing the inclusion of the AU within the G20 as well as coming up with a workable joint statement India has shown its credibility. The theme of India’s Presidency being ‘One Earth, One Family, and One Future’ would have been found lacking without the inclusion of almost half of the human population. This is especially noteworthy in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, wherein scientists remain fearful of Africa being a pool of vector borne diseases owing to its inadequate public health infrastructure.

India’s approach towards these African states has been one of mutual respect and prosperity. Its relations with the African continent is strengthened by a thriving Indian diaspora in East and South Africa and its historical linkages with India’s nationalist movement. The spirit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) remains at the base of India’s developmental assistance to these African states. In recent years India’s capacity building efforts is visible in other areas for instance defense as it tries to position itself as a serious geopolitical actor. This was clearly visible in India’s engagement with some of the leading East African states prior to the G20 summit.

India’s place as the world’s largest democracy and the second most populous state after China has important connotations for the African continent. Its ability to propose governance solutions which are scalable as well as efficient makes it a model exemplar. In recent years, many of these solutions, for instance, the COWIN app has attracted the attention of many of these African states which want to undertake mass immunization exercises. Traditionally speaking, foreign policy has always prioritized the twin goals of economic and cultural diplomacy. However, the advent of the pandemic as well as the infusion of AI in all aspects of our lives has created a new paradigm of ‘policy diplomacy’. The formation of the T20 working group within the G20 which is to serve as an ‘idea bank’ or the creation of Startup 20 engagement group of young tech entrepreneurs points towards such trends.

In conclusion, a question which must be raised is this: What are the geopolitical ramifications of the inclusion of the AU within the G20? At one level, this points towards consolidation and making the ‘Voice of the Global South’ felt at the high table of world politics. But there are various structural issues involved which continue to persist. The unequal flow of global capital as well as the position of Africa as the new geopolitical battleground would need serious introspection. It is also necessary for the AU to put its own house in order. The recent tussle between the Economic Council of West African States (ECOWAS) and Niger about the necessity of intervention in the latter’s domestic politics points towards such concerns. As Robert Cox said ‘Theory is always for someone and for some purpose’. Thus, it will be interesting to note the way in which the AU can contribute to this ‘objective’ world of International Relations by being a rule setter rather than a rule taker.

References

1. Abhishek Mishra, “Boosting India-Africa defence and security partnership”, ORF, March 24, 2023, https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/boosting-india-africa-defence-and-security-partnership/
2. Anne Soy, “Why Russia’s invasion of Ukraine still divides Africa”, BBC, February 25, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64759845
3. Rebecca Johnson, “G20: India Lends Voice To The African Union, Facilitates Inclusion In The Group Of 20”, Outlook India, September 9, 2023, https://www.outlookindia.com/national/g20-india-lends-voice-to-the-african-union-facilitates-inclusion-in-the-group-of-20-news-316960
4. Shubhajit Roy, “African Union in G20: How India successfully pushed engagement with AU nations and amplified Global South’s voice”, The Indian Express, September 10, 2023, https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/african-union-au-g20-8931766/
5. Sumayya Ismail, “‘A wall of BRICS’: The significance of adding six new members to the bloc”, Al Jazeera, August 24, 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/24/analysis-wall-of-brics-the-significance-of-adding-six-new-members#:~:text=here%20to%20search-,’A%20wall%20of%20BRICS’%3A%20The%20significance%20of%20adding%20six,emerging%20economies%20in%20January%202024.

Debayan Ghatak.

Adjunct Researcher, Asia in Global Affairs

The originality of the content and the opinions expressed within the content are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the website.