India–Africa Relations

 

1. In 2025, Africa witnessed major political, economic, security, diplomatic, and climate-related developments.

2. India intensified high-level diplomatic engagement with African countries throughout 2025.

3. Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço visited India in May 2025, strengthening India–Angola ties.

4. President Droupadi Murmu made a reciprocal visit to Angola in November 2025.

5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mauritius in March 2025 and received the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.

6. In July 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ghana and Namibia and received their highest national and civilian honours.

7. The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement 2025 was inaugurated on 13 April 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

8. India sent an All-Party Delegation to countries including Liberia, Ethiopia, and Congo to convey India’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism.

9. Sudan’s civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces escalated into one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

10. Mali faced rising instability due to the terrorist group JNIM, while Somalia continued to face threats from Al-Shabab.

11. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the rise of the M23 rebel group reflected the link between geopolitics, regional rivalries, and mineral wealth.

12. Gen Z protests erupted in Madagascar, Morocco, and Kenya due to youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and political dissatisfaction.

13. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, was elected as the head of the African Union Commission.

14. India–Africa trade reached USD 81.90 billion in FY 2024–25, with exports at USD 42.70 billion and imports at USD 39.20 billion.

15. Africa holds major critical mineral reserves, including 48.1% of global cobalt reserves and 47.7% of global manganese reserves.

 

Must Know Terms :

 

 

1.IndiaAfricaRelations

India–Africa Relations expanded strongly in 2025 through high-level visits, trade, defence cooperation, maritime engagement, and development partnerships. India intensified diplomacy with Angola, Mauritius, Ghana, Namibia, Ethiopia, and other African countries. The relationship is important for energy security, critical minerals, trade diversification, diaspora safety, maritime security, and South-South cooperation.

2. AIKEYME2025

Africa India Key Maritime Engagement 2025 was inaugurated on 13 April 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. It marked an important milestone in India–Africa maritime cooperation. The initiative aims to improve naval interoperability, maritime security, regional stability, and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, which is vital for India’s trade and security interests.

3. IndiaAfricaTrade

India–Africa trade reached USD 81.90 billion in FY 2024–25. India’s exports to Africa stood at USD 42.70 billion, while imports were USD 39.20 billion. India aims to double trade with Africa to USD 200 billion by 2030 by improving market access, export diversification, sustainable financing, and private sector participation.

4. AfricanUnionCommission

In 2025, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected as the head of the African Union Commission. This marked an important leadership change in Africa’s continental institutions. The African Union Commission plays a key role in political coordination, peace-building, economic integration, and Africa’s collective engagement with global partners like India.

5. CriticalMinerals

Africa is highly important for India’s clean energy transition because it holds large reserves of critical minerals. The continent has about 48.1% of global cobalt reserves, 47.7% of manganese, 21.6% of natural graphite, 5.9% of copper, and 5.6% of nickel. These minerals are essential for batteries, electric vehicles, and green technologies.

6. IndiaAfricaForumSummit

India–Africa Forum Summit is a structured platform for strengthening political, economic, and security cooperation between India and African countries. The Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit may be convened in 2026. It can help consolidate cooperation in trade, defence, agriculture, digital infrastructure, critical minerals, clean energy, and development partnerships.

 

MCQ :

1. With reference to India–Africa relations in 2025, consider the following statements:

1. India intensified high-level diplomatic engagement with African countries.
2. Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço visited India.
3. President Droupadi Murmu made a reciprocal visit to Angola.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

2. With reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Africa-related engagements in 2025, consider the following pairs:

Country visited Honour received
1. Mauritius Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean
2. Ghana Highest national honour
3. Namibia Highest civilian honour

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

3. The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement 2025 was inaugurated in:

A. Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
B. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
C. Nairobi, Kenya
D. Cairo, Egypt

4. Consider the following countries:

1. Liberia
2. Ethiopia
3. Congo
4. Morocco

India’s All-Party Delegation visited which of the above countries to convey India’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

5. With reference to security challenges in Africa, consider the following pairs:

Country/Region Security challenge
1. Sudan Civil war between SAF and RSF
2. Mali Instability due to JNIM
3. Somalia Threat from Al-Shabab

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

6. The civil war in Sudan is mainly associated with conflict between:

A. M23 and Al-Shabab
B. Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces
C. JNIM and African Union forces
D. TISZA party and government forces

7. The rise of the M23 rebel group was mentioned in the context of:

A. Democratic Republic of Congo
B. Sudan
C. Somalia
D. Madagascar

8. With reference to Gen Z protests in Africa, consider the following countries:

1. Madagascar
2. Morocco
3. Kenya
4. Angola

In which of the above did such protests erupt?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

9. Consider the following statements about the African Union Commission:

1. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected as its head in 2025.
2. He was the Foreign Minister of Djibouti.
3. The African Union Commission plays a role in continental political coordination and peace-building.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

10. India–Africa trade in FY 2024–25 reached:

A. USD 61.90 billion
B. USD 71.90 billion
C. USD 81.90 billion
D. USD 101.90 billion

11. With reference to India–Africa trade in FY 2024–25, consider the following statements:

1. India’s exports to Africa stood at USD 42.70 billion.
2. India’s imports from Africa stood at USD 39.20 billion.
3. Total India–Africa trade crossed USD 100 billion.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

12. Which of the following critical minerals are significantly found in Africa according to the passage?

1. Cobalt
2. Manganese
3. Natural graphite
4. Nickel

Select the correct answer using the code below:

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

13. Africa holds approximately what share of global cobalt reserves?

A. 21.6%
B. 47.7%
C. 48.1%
D. 5.6%

14. With reference to India’s outlook for Africa in 2026, consider the following statements:

1. The Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit may be convened.
2. India aims to double India–Africa trade to USD 200 billion by 2030.
3. Maritime security is expected to remain an important pillar of cooperation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

15. Which of the following best describes the strategic importance of Africa for India?

A. Africa is important only for cultural exchange.
B. Africa is important for trade, maritime security, critical minerals, energy security, and South-South cooperation.
C. Africa is relevant only for European security policy.
D. Africa has no relevance for India’s clean energy transition.