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Weapons to atomic reactors, Russia vows to help Africa

Russia-Africa Summit Rosoboronexport, part of the Russian state-owned technology conglomerate Rostec, will be demonstrating tools developed and tested in Russia to counter terrorism…reports Asian Lite News

As Russia continues to make deep inroads into Africa, several leading arms exporters from the country will be showcasing a wide range of their latest counterterrorism equipment and intelligent digital technologies at the second Russia-Africa Summit that begins in Saint Petersburg from Thursday.

The heads of states, governments and representatives of the vast majority of countries on the African continent, as well as regional associations and organisations, will be participating in the two-day Second Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, the largest-scale event in Russian–African relations.

With many of these African nations currently engulfed by violence, chaos, conflict and battling deadly terrorist groups at the same time, Moscow is looking at providing them with not just political, trade, economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian but also substantial military support.

“We will continue to assist our African partners in every possible way in strengthening national and cultural sovereignty, in more active participation in resolving regional and global issues,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

The Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport admitted that it saw an “extremely high prolonged conversion” from the talks held during the summit’s first edition held in Sochi in October 2019 which saw the participation of 45 countries from the continent.

“Since 2019 to the present, we have signed over 150 contract documents with African partners and increased our order book by more than $10 billion. During this time, we have expanded our presence adding five new countries on the continent,” said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport in a statement ahead of the Saint Petersburg event.

Russia-Africa Summit Rosoboronexport, part of the Russian state-owned technology conglomerate Rostec, will be demonstrating tools developed and tested in Russia to counter terrorism, organised crime, cyber threats, protect the constitutional system and public order, provide border and critical facility security and surveillance.

As part of their outdoor exhibits, a number of Russian companies will showcase military, dual-use and civilian products designed to counter various security threats that are most in demand on the African continent.

On display would be the Orion reconnaissance/strike UAV, Orlan-10E and Orlan-30 reconnaissance UAVs, Kub-E loitering munition and other battle-proven UAV systems.

Counter-UAV systems, including RB-504P-E, Serp-VS5 and Saphir, will also be exhibited along with the drones while Spartak, Tiger-Raid and Strela MRAP vehicles will be displayed in the armoured combat vehicles zone.

Addressing the main challenges to the global African security architecture, Russian companies will show IT solutions tested in the domestic market and adapted for use in African countries. These include a comprehensive Smart City project, a national-level cyber security platform, as well as internet monitoring, information protection and legal data interception systems.

Russian Helicopters, another Rostec company, will put on display its helicopters having high export potential, including Mi-8MTV-1 in the medical version, Mi-171E and Mi-38 in VIP configuration, Ansat and the first Russian Mi-171A3 offshore helicopter.

Rostec’s experience in creating the first air ambulance service on the African continent – 18 Russian-made Ansat helicopters intented for Zimbabwe – will also be presented during the forum.

Meanwhile, Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, which is a general partner of the second edition of the summit, will be signing a set of bilateral documents on current projects and prospects for implementation of nuclear solutions on the continent. This includes both power and non-power applications of nuclear technologies, as well as potential areas for cooperation.

“Discussion of the joint nuclear solutions, particularly in the area of nuclear power engineering, nuclear medicine, food security assurance, is planned within the framework of the business programme at the forum,” said a Rosatom statement.

Advanced solutions on the basis of nuclear technologies proposed for implementation in the African countries will be presented by Rosatom while African delegation tours to Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, Baltic Shipyard and Dalur uranium facility have also been planned.

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Niger coup: Gen Tchiani named new leader, suspends constitution

The international community has voiced concerns about the situation in Niger.

General Abdourahamane Tchiani, former leader of Niger’s presidential guard, has been named “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland” (CNSP) following a military takeover in the West African country, state television reported.

The military took over control of Niger because it concerned itself with the continued deterioration of the security situation and poor economic and social governance, the CNSP said on Friday in a statement.

Later in the day, Tchiani signed an order to suspend the Constitution and dissolved the government, empowering the CNSP to exercise all legislative and executive authorities and the president of the council to represent the country in international relations.

Niger’s Defence and Security Forces said late Wednesday that soldiers in the country had overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, hours after the president was allegedly held hostage.

The international community has voiced concerns about the situation in Niger.

South Africa condemned the attempted coup in Niger and called on the military establishment to ensure Bazoum’s safety, return to the barracks and restore order in the country.

The South African government strongly rejects unlawful seizure of power by any group or individual as this reverses democratic gains and development and threatens the realisation of Africa’s aspiration for a better Africa, the government said in a statement.

Kenyan President William Ruto said on Friday that the unconstitutional change of power was subverting the democratic gains made by African nations over the years.

“Kenya joins the rest of the world to condemn, in the strongest terms, this unconstitutional act that subverts democracy through a coup-d’etat and calls for the immediate release of President Bazoum who is reportedly seized by members of the Presidential Guard,” he said in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Bazoum, as the world body is suspending humanitarian operations in Niger due to the situation in the country.

“The problem on the air right now is that our humanitarian flights cannot fly within the country which means that our humanitarian operations are suspended,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, told reporters later at a daily press briefing.

There are currently 4.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Niger, compared to 1.9 million in 2017, Dujarric said.

More than 370,000 people are displaced within Niger, which also hosts more than 250,000 refugees, mainly from Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso, according to the spokesman.

Namibia strongly condemned the attempted coup in Niger on Thursday.

In a statement, Penda Naanda, executive director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, said that Namibia stands firmly against any attempt to seize power through unconstitutional means.

“Namibia remains resolute in its stance on zero tolerance for acceding to power through unconstitutional means and supports the statement by the African Union on the attempted coup, in which it calls on the people of Niger, as well as all their brothers in Africa, particularly those in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and around the world, to unite in unanimous condemnation of the coup attempt and to demand the immediate and unconditional return of the soldiers to their barracks,” Naanda said.

The ECOWAS is a regional political and economic union of 15 countries located in West Africa.

West African leaders are closely monitoring the developments in Niger and would resist any attempted coup in that country, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Wednesday.

Tinubu, also chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, said in a statement that he has been in close consultation with other leaders in the region.

“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.” 

ALSO READ: Blinken: US ties with Niger conditioned on democratic rule

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Putin hopes African Union joining G20 in Sept

Moscow, Feb 21 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly (Russia's two-chamber Parliament), in Moscow on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

In the meeting, the chairperson of the African Union said that Russia is a very important partner for Africa…reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that the decision to grant the African Union full membership of the G20 will be taken in the grouping’s New Delhi Summit in September, according to the statement released by the Kremlin..

Putin said this in a trilateral meeting held with the Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Union of the Comoros Azali Assoumani and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat. In the trilateral meeting, Putin said that Russia is ready to help strengthen African countries’ sovereignty and contribute to Africa becoming a key partner in the new system of the multipolar world order.

“We support the Union’s involvement in the work of leading international associations. I would like to remind you that Russia was one of the first to react positively to the initiative advanced by the President of Senegal, who preceded you in this position, for granting the African Union full membership in the G20. We hope that the decision will be adopted at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September,” Putin said in the meeting.

“We will give priority attention to these issues at the summit, which opens today. We will also discuss practical decisions on building up trade and economic cooperation, ensuring food and energy security, and developing national healthcare systems,” he added.

Talking about trade ties, Putin said that despite the coronavirus and the “illegal sanctions” imposed against Russia, mutual trade reached approximately 18 billion US dollars in 2022 and increased by nearly 35 per cent in the first six months of 2023.

“We highly value our relations with the Union of the Comoros. They are based on the principles of mutual respect and a balance of each other’s interests and have development potential in a number of spheres. Of course, we are open to cooperation with your country in all areas,” the Russian President added.

In the meeting, the chairperson of the African Union said that Russia is a very important partner for Africa.

“It is said that a friend in need is a friend indeed, and in times of need, Russia has always stood with Africa regardless of the problems that arose, including its struggle for independence,” Assoumani said and adding that Russia has always been there, despite all the difficulties that Africa has been through. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Putin promises no-cost Russian grain shipments to 6 African countries

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Putin promises no-cost Russian grain shipments to 6 African countries

The Russian mercenary group Wagner has been active in Mali and Central African Republic, and Eritrea has voted against more UN General Assembly resolutions criticizing Russia’s invasion than any other African nation…reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin told leaders and officials from most African countries Thursday that his nation is making every effort to avert a global food crisis despite concerns that its withdrawal from a deal allowing grain shipments from Ukraine will cause price spikes.

Putin spoke at the opening session of a two-day Russia-Africa summit attended by a sharply lower number of African heads of state and government compared with a previous summit in 2019. While discussing the halted Black Sea grain deal, he promised large no-cost shipments of grain to six African countries.

“Our country will continue supporting needy states and regions, in particular, with its humanitarian deliveries. We seek to actively participate in building a fairer system of distribution of resources. We are taking maximum efforts to avert a global food crisis,” Putin said.

“I have already said that our country can replace Ukrainian grain, both on a commercial basis and as grant aid to the neediest African countries, more so since we expect another record harvest this year,” he said.

Russia intends to ship up to 50,000 tons of grain aid to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea and the Central African Republic in the next three to four months, Putin said.

Without directly referring to Putin’s promise, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took a swipe Thursday at donations of grain to developing nations, saying they cannot compensate for the global impact of Moscow’s cutoff of Ukrainian grain exports.

The UN chief said the United Nations is in contact with Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and other countries to try to reestablish the deal that saw Ukraine export over 32,000 tons of grain, allowing global food prices to drop significantly.

Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York that taking millions of tons of Ukrainian grain out of the global market will lead to higher prices, and these increased prices “will be paid by everybody, everywhere, and namely by developing countries and by the vulnerable people in middle income and even developed countries.”

“So, it’s not with a handful of donations to some countries that we correct this dramatic impact that affects everybody, everywhere,” Guterres said.

Both Russia and Ukraine are major grain suppliers. They agreed a year ago on a UN- and Turkey-brokered deal that reopened three Ukrainian Black Sea ports blocked by fighting and provided assurances that ships entering the ports would not be attacked. Russia declined to renew the agreement last week, complaining that its own exports were being held up.

Promising Russian food exports to Africa is key to Putin’s stated goal of using the summit in St. Petersburg to bolster ties with a continent of 1.3 billion people that is increasingly assertive on the global stage.

Africa’s 54 nations make up the largest voting bloc at the United Nations and have been more divided than any other region on General Assembly resolutions criticizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

The Russian mercenary group Wagner has been active in Mali and Central African Republic, and Eritrea has voted against more UN General Assembly resolutions criticizing Russia’s invasion than any other African nation.

Burkina Faso is seen by some observers as a likely next target for Wagner, and Zimbabwe has long been bitter about U.S. sanctions against it. Somalia, while a U.S. ally, is often held up as an African country most affected by any restrictions on grain supplies related to the conflict in Ukraine.

The Russia-Africa event follows South African authorities announcing last week that Putin had agreed not to attend an economic summit in Johannesburg next month because the trip could expose him to arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Putin on Thursday announced other moves to deepen relations with Africa, including increased enrollment of African students in Russian universities, the opening of Russian state news media bureaus in many African countries and a proposed “common information space in Russia and Africa, within which objective, unbiased information about events taking place in the world will be broadcast to Russian and African audiences.”

Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said that while only 17 heads of state were attending the summit, 32 other African countries were represented by senior officials or ambassadors. The Kremlin said that crude Western pressure to discourage African nations from taking part caused the number of leaders taking part to shrink; in 2019, 43 heads of state attended.

Along with grain, another issue likely to be on the agenda is the fate of the Wagner mercenary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin following its brief rebellion against the top military leadership last month. The private contractor’s future will be an urgent issue for countries such as Sudan, Mali and others that contract with Wagner in exchange for natural resources like gold.

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Military coup in Niger, President detained

Soldiers from the presidential guard in the West African nation reportedly barricaded Bazoum in his presidential palace on Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News

Soldiers in Niger announced a coup on national TV, adding that President Mohamed Bazoum was being held hostage with his wife at his residence in the capital Niamey after negotiations with the head of the presidential guard stalled.

Soldiers from the presidential guard in the West African nation reportedly barricaded Bazoum in his presidential palace on Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the TV announcement on Wednesday, Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, alongside nine other uniformed soldiers behind him, said: “We, the defence and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime you know. This follows the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance.”

He also said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation’s borders, adding that the heads of Ministries would take care of day-to-day business, the BBC reported.

“All external partners are asked not to interfere… Land and air borders are closed until the situation has stabilised,” Col Maj Abdramane said, adding that a night curfew has been imposed from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. until further notice.

He said the soldiers were acting for the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).

Meanwhile, Niger’s presidential complex is currently sealed off.

A statement on the presidency’s social media channels said that Bazoum is “doing well” and the army and national guard were “ready to attack the elements of the GP (Presidential Guard) involved in this fit of anger if they do not return to their better senses”, CNN reported.

The country’s Interior Minister, Hamadou Souley, was also arrested by the presidential guard on Wednesday morning local time and is being held along with Bazoum.

Hundreds of protesters later gathered in Niamey in support of Bazoum.

Presidential guards to fired “warning shots” to block their advance when protesters were about 300 meters from the presidential palace, CNN reported.

Up to 400 protesters were seen later on Wednesday, some holding photos of Bazoum and signs saying: “No to the destabilisation of the republic’s institutions.”

After the soldiers’ TV announcement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the release of President Bazoum, the BBC reported.

He told a news conference in New Zealand that “what it clearly constitutes is an effort to seize power by force and to disrupt the constitution”.

The situation has triggered widespread condemnation.

In a short statement released by his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the coup attempt.

“The Secretary-General is following closely the situation in Niger. He condemns in the strongest terms any effort to seize power by force and to undermine democratic governance, peace and stability in Niger,” according to the statement.

The UN chief “calls on all actors involved to exercise restraint and to ensure the protection of constitutional order. The UN stands by the Government and the people of Niger”.

While the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned “any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability of Niger”, the French Foreign Minister said it “is closely monitoring the development of the situation”.

White House officials said they “strongly condemn any effort to detain or subvert the functioning of Niger’s democratically elected government”.

Niger’s neighboring nations of Mali and Burkina Faso have both experienced military coups in the past few years, in the wake of growing jihadi insurgencies which have destabilised the entire region.

Bazoum was elected in 2021 and Niger has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960.

ALSO READ: Indian sailors detained in Nigeria return home

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India hopeful of African Union getting G20 seat

The African Union is an influential organisation consisting of 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal to make the African Union a permanent member of the G20 has received an overwhelming response from the grouping, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said.

The top negotiator said that India was “very hopeful” of the African continental body receiving full membership of the G20 during New Delhi’s presidency of the grouping.

Last month, Modi wrote to the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies pitching for giving the African Union full membership of the grouping at its upcoming summit in New Delhi.

The proposal was formally included in the draft leaders’ declaration at the third G-20 Sherpas’ meeting that took place in Karnataka’s Hampi from July 13 to 16.

The African Union (AU) is an influential organisation consisting of 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent.

The Sherpas held four extensive rounds of discussions during the gathering to give shape to the leaders’ declaration to be adopted at the summit of the grouping in September in New Delhi.

Kant said the Prime Minister’s proposal on giving G-20 membership to the African Union received widespread support and that India’s presidency of the grouping is largely aimed at benefiting the Global South including the African continent.

“Our whole document is actually devised on the basis of the meeting the prime minister had with the 125 countries in the Voice of Global South summit. What has come out from there has been the basic premise on which our document (draft leaders’ declaration) is based,” he said.

“Therefore, one of the key issues has been that the prime minister wrote to all the leaders that the African Union should become a permanent member. We have proposed that in the Sherpa meeting,” Kant said.

“I am glad to say that we have had an overwhelming response to this proposal of the prime minister of India at the third round of Sherpa meeting,” he added.

He further added, “So we are very, very hopeful that based on the prime minister’s proposal, Africa will find a permanent position in G20 during India’s presidency.” The G-20 operates under the principle of consensus and any dissenting voice on the proposal at the leaders’ summit may create difficulties, according to officials.

The G20 or Group of 20 is a premier organisation that represents around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).

In January, India hosted the Voice of the Global South Summit with an aim to highlight the problems and challenges facing developing countries.

The African Union is considered the top-most grouping representing the voice of Africa. It has been working towards ensuring the progress and economic growth of African nations.

Kant said India’s priorities for the summit are sustainable growth, speedy implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), digital transformation and green development among others.

The top negotiator said India’s position has been that resources need to be provided to the developing countries both for SDGs and for climate action.

On the issue of “climate justice”, he said climate finance is a very critical issue.

“If you are trying to be ambitious on climate action, then there has to be a simultaneous action on finance. It can’t be that the developed world asks us to be ambitious on climate action and then cuts down on climate finance; that’s not possible,” he said.

Kant also pointed out the need for private sector lending to address the challenge. “And it’s not the balance sheet of the multilateral development banks. But the balance sheet of the world has to be used to actually push resources because even if you use the balance sheet of the World Bank, it will not help you,” he said.

Kant noted that there is no shortage of money in the world, adding, “There is 350 trillion dollars available with the private sector, 150 trillion dollars is available with institutional investors and the private sector with pension funds.”

“But they will not invest where the risks are very high. Now the challenge is that you have different risks for different countries,” he said while highlighting different interest rates in different parts of the globe.

Delving into challenges facing the developing countries or the Global South, Kant said the international financial architecture is weighed against emerging markets though the growth is coming from them.

ALSO READ-Over 40 countries show interest in joining BRICS

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South Africa says arresting Putin would be ‘declaration of war’

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is pictured after being re-elected as president of the African National Congress (ANC) during the 55th national conference of the ANC in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/IANS)

The arrest would also undermine a South African-led mission to end the war in Ukraine and “foreclose any peaceful solution”, Ramaphosa wrote…reports Asian Lite News

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa warned that any effort to apprehend Russian President Vladimir Putin during his upcoming visit would be tantamount to initiating a state of war with Russia.

Ramaphosa said in court papers that were released on Tuesday that “Russia has made it clear that arresting its sitting President would be a declaration of war.”

Putin has been invited to a BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month but is the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant – a provision that Pretoria as an ICC member would be expected to implement were he to attend.

South Africa’s diplomatic dilemma is playing out in court, where the leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is trying to force the government’s hand and ensure the Kremlin leader is held and handed over to the ICC if he steps foot in the country.

In his response, Ramaphosa described the DA’s application as “irresponsible” and said national security was at stake. According to the president, South Africa is seeking an exemption under ICC rules based on the fact that enacting the arrest could threaten the “security, peace and order of the state”.

“It would be inconsistent with our constitution to risk engaging in war with Russia,” he said, adding that this would go against his duty to protect the country.

The arrest would also undermine a South African-led mission to end the war in Ukraine and “foreclose any peaceful solution”, Ramaphosa wrote.

The ICC treaty states that a member country should consult the court when it identifies problems that may impede the execution of a request, and that the court may not proceed with requesting an arrest if this would require a state to break international rules on diplomatic immunity.

South Africa is the current chair of the BRICS group, a gathering of economic heavyweights that also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China, which sees itself as a counter-balance to Western economic domination.

Putin is sought by the ICC over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children. South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile has said in recent interviews with local media the government has been trying to persuade Putin not to come – but so far unsuccessfully.

Signed in June and initially marked as “confidential”, Ramaphosa’s affidavit was published on Tuesday, after the court ruled it be made public.

DA leader John Steenhuisen praised the court’s decision, describing Ramaphosa’s argument that South Africa risked war with Russia as “farcical” and “flimsy”. “When foreign policy decisions have the capacity to decimate South Africa’s international reputation … and decimate our economy, it is crucial that government uphold its obligation to be open and transparent,” Steenhuisen said in a statement.

ALSO READ-France to work with India to ensure meaningful G20 summit in Sept

READ MORE-Ramaphosa wins bid to interdict prosecution against him by Zuma

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South Africa invites leaders from all African countries to BRICS summit

Cape Town, June 01 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other dignitaries during a family photo ceremony ahead of the BRICS Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, in Cape Town on Thursday. (ANI Photo)

Those who have been invited include leaders from the African Union and regional economic communities as well as business leaders, according to Sooklal…reports Asian Lite News

South Africa has invited heads of state of all African countries to the BRICS summit, which is set to be held in August in Johannesburg, a senior government official said.

“President (Cyril) Ramaphosa has decided to invite all African leaders as part of the BRICS outreach so we have extended an invitation to all African leaders to come and have dialogue with BRICS leaders,” South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa Anil Sooklal said at a media briefing Thursday.

The summit will discuss how the BRICS countries can partner with Africa to help the continent achieve economic growth, Sooklal said, noting that President Ramaphosa will host a dinner for BRICS leaders, which will also be attended by African leaders.

Those who have been invited include leaders from the African Union and regional economic communities as well as business leaders, according to Sooklal.

The BRICS is an acronym for five emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. South Africa assumed the BRICS presidency on Jan. 1, 2023, taking over from China.

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‘Tanzania is India’s largest African partner’

Jaishankar informed the audience that the heart of India and Tanzania ties is the solidarity of spirit and mutuality of interests…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that Tanzania is India’s largest African partner in training and capacity building.

During an interaction with the Indian community in Dar-es-Salaam on Thursday as part of his ongoing visit to Tanzania, Jaishankar stressed on the importance of Mission IT (India & Tanzania).

He highlighted the strong India-Africa connection, especially India’s deep links with East Africa.

Jaishankar informed the audience that the heart of India and Tanzania ties is the solidarity of spirit and mutuality of interests.

He recognised that the Indian community is an expression, contributor and force of the relationship between the two nations.

Jaishankar explained how friendship between the two nations is making a difference in the lives of the average Tanzanian.

“Our water projects will benefit 8 million people in the country,” Jaishankar said.

The Indian community had historically been a source of strength for the relationship. As our ties expand, so will their role, he added.

ALSO READ-Tanzania embraces India’s outreach of Africa’s east coast

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Tanzania embraces India’s outreach of Africa’s east coast

India, an all-weather friend of Africa, has been making efforts to enhance the security of the east coast of southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), reports Ateet Sharma

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Tanzania at a time when Indian Naval Ship Trishul is making a port call at Zanzibar reflects not only India’s cordial ties with its maritime neighbours but also its vision of becoming a voice of the Global South.

Jaishankar arrived in Zanzibar – an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania known for its spice heritage – on Wednesday, a few hours after INS Trishul, the Talwar-Class guided missile frigate of Indian Navy, entered the Zanzibar port.

Last week, the Indian warship was in Seychelles as its 21-men marching contingent and 14-member Navy Band participated in the island nation’s 47th National Day Celebrations, making a strong statement of India’s commitment to bolstering bilateral ties and reinforcing maritime security cooperation with regional navies in neighbourhood.

“Attended a deck reception hosted onboard INS Trishul with President of Zanzibar, Hussein Ali Mwinyi. Welcomed the presence of the Speaker, Ministers, MPs, senior officers from Tanzanian Defence Forces and Indian diaspora. INS Trishul’s presence in Zanzibar today is a statement of our SAGAR (Safety and Growth for All in the Region) commitment,” tweeted Jaishankar, earlier today.

Along with Mwinyi, the EAM also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of the first IIT campus outside India.

“This campus is reflective of the longstanding friendship between India and Tanzania and a reminder of the focus India places on building people to people ties across Africa and the Global South,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement after the MoU was signed between India’s Ministry of Education, IIT Madras and Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com last week, both countries have already agreed to leverage ocean resources and also drawn a five-year roadmap for defence cooperation, ranging from customised training and capacity building to maritime cooperation, infrastructure building and collaboration in defence equipment and technology.

Ambassador Samwel Shelukindo, the Permanent Secretary at the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has urged India to support his country’s efforts in promoting blue economy which is one of the priority sectors of the government led by Samia Solution Hassan, Tanzania’s first woman president.

India, an all-weather friend of Africa, has been making efforts to enhance the security of the east coast of southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) while at the same time giving resonance to the voice of the Global South during its ongoing G20 presidency.

Tanzania – one of India’s reliable partners on the east coast of Africa at the western edge of the Indian Ocean – is a natural and effective transportation gateway into eastern, southern and central Africa with its three deepwater ports in Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara that service six landlocked neighbouring countries of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi.

“I recommend that the Government of India establish cooperation with Tanzania in developing the blue economy sector, particularly, fishing on the high seas, development of fish processing industries, search and rescue, boat manufacturing and boat-making equipment,” Shelukindo said during a bilateral meeting held on June 26.

The Tanzanian government has thanked India for providing aid in various sectors, including soft loans of one billion USD for the development of water projects which will eventually benefit more than six million people of the country.

Even as they wait to sign a major agreement on agriculture, Tanzania will be selling 200,000 tonnes of peas to India per year with both countries also working on new areas of cooperation in the sectors of IT, water, sports and culture, trade and investment.

During the second leg of his four-day visit, Jaishankar will travel to Dar-es-Salaam where he will co-chair the 10th India-Tanzania Joint Commission Meeting with his counterpart and call on the country’s top leadership, including several top ministers.

(India Narrative)

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