Africa did not figure much in the scheme of things of jet-set Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his four-year rule. Nor did the ‘dark’
continent matter much for previous Indian governments. This had largely to do with the thinking in New Delhi that Africa did not
set the global agenda and remained side-lined in the international power play. The present visit by PM Modi to three African nations –
Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa – in the run-up to the BRICS summit, also is a tame affair. Yet, there’s some buzz as to what the Indian PM is up to this time, mainly because China’s Leader for Life, Xi Jinping, is also in close proximity.
Fact is that while India looked the other way, China was quietly engaging Africa. It engaged the continent and the nations thereof
through multiple channels and initiatives. China took large swathes of land in African countries on lease; it took mines on lease; and it
established large business connections with these countries in the last two decades with a rare zeal. Little wonder then that China
matters more to some African countries than India despite the fact the ties between India and Africa are long-standing. China started
courting Africa in recent years. A well-acknowledged fact is that the Chinese deal with Africans with less of racial prejudices; for, what
mattered to Chinese delegations visiting or dealing with Africa was business. The large number of Indian settlers in Africa, on the other
hand, had often set themselves against the natives. This, despite the historic Gandhi stamp on Africa.
Notably, new entrant China’s annual trade volume with Africa is double of the volume India has with the continent. So with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows. So with diplomatic engagements. China’s ambitious One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative does not limit itself to Asia but has a significant African component too. Billions are given to African nations as loan by China, while India failed to warm up to
them. Even the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project that reaches up close to Africa ensures easy reach of Chinese products to African markets – where India had significant presence in the past.
Visit by leaders from one side to the other or signing of some bilateral agreements by themselves are of little help in the age of
economic hyper activity. The failure on the part of successive Indian governments to realize the potential of Africa in matters of natural
resources is today to the great advantage of China. If PM Modi’s present visit can repair the damage even to a small extent, then its a