New Delhi:
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that the decision was taken after discussions involving the Government of India, the Chairperson of the African Union and the African Union Commission on the feasibility of holding the summit and its associated meetings under the present circumstances.
According to the MEA, both sides exchanged views on the emerging public health concerns in parts of Africa and reaffirmed the need for continued cooperation in strengthening preparedness and response capacities across the continent, including through support to Africa CDC and relevant national institutions.
India reiterated its solidarity with African countries and conveyed its readiness to extend assistance to Africa-led efforts, in line with the shared commitment to an “Africa-led response”.
The summit is one of New Delhi’s key diplomatic platforms for engagement with the African continent. Over the years, India has deepened its ties with African nations through development partnerships, scholarships, health cooperation, digital initiatives, infrastructure projects and strategic outreach.
However, with several African countries facing public health concerns, both sides decided that caution should take precedence over ceremony.
Fresh dates for the summit and related meetings will be finalised through mutual consultations and announced in due course, the MEA said.
Despite the deferment, both sides sought to underline that the postponement did not represent a setback in ties. The official statement reaffirmed the longstanding India-Africa partnership, describing it as one founded on “solidarity, mutual respect, South-South cooperation, and a shared commitment to peace, development, prosperity, and the well-being of their peoples”.
The decision comes amid renewed global concern over Ebola, with attention focused on outbreaks in parts of Africa, including Congo and Uganda. The current crisis has drawn caution because Ebola includes different viral strains with varying levels of severity, transmissibility and response to treatment.
The Bundibugyo variant, a less common strain of the virus, is believed to be driving the present health concerns. It has historically appeared less frequently than the Zaire strain, which caused the devastating West African Ebola epidemic between 2014 and 2016.