Model Question and Answers for APSC | Increasing interest of India in Africa has its pros and cons. Critically examine.

Ans: In recent years, India's interest in Africa has expanded, as evidenced by the "Addis Ababa Declaration," in which it was determined to strengthen Africa and India's collaboration with new efforts to their mutual advantage. India is a "development partner" of Africa and has placed a greater focus on this and other economic diplomacy techniques to assure Africa's continued development and growth.

Pros of India-Africa partnership:

• Africa's backing will aid India's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security In addition, the African continent provides India with a platform to bolster its soft power through its over two million strong diaspora.
• Africa has become a vital source of natural resources and for the development of new markets. Africa is also a significant source of valuable minerals and metals, such as gold and India started the Focus Africa programme to achieve this result.
• Africa's arable land can potentially play a significant role in addressing India's constantly expanding agricultural demand.
• Africa's oil and gas supplies energy-starved India with new import sources and diversifies its supply away from the Middle Eastern monopoly.
• Maritime security in the Indian Ocean, worldwide terrorism, the existence of an assertive China, etc., are just a few of the concerns that can be addressed more effectively with improved cooperation between these two nations.

Cons:

• Due to the political instability in Africa, Indian investments will always be at risk. The conflict between the Sudan and South Sudan has highlighted the high-risk nature of investing in Africa.

• In African economies, business regulation is Therefore, India's economic expansion into Africa cannot be divorced from the controversy surrounding certain of its transactions, including its oil exploration contract with Sudan and its trade ties with Zimbabwe.
• Chinese Investment is greater than Indian Investment. Therefore, China may leverage Africa for its own purposes in the future, at the expense of India's efforts.

Multi-level cooperation is bringing the two continents together due to India's interest in Africa. It must be structured to overcome existing obstacles and usher in an age that will bring about "AmandlaNgawethu" (power to the people).