Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) Scheduled for May 28-31 in New Delhi: History and Key Outcomes

📌 Summary:

• EAM Jaishankar unveiled the logo, theme and website for IAFS-IV on 23 April 2026; the Summit is scheduled for 28–31 May 2026 in New Delhi — more than a decade after the last India-hosted edition (IAFS-III, 2015)

• IAFS was established in 2008; it is the apex institutional mechanism for India's engagement with Africa covering trade, investment, and people-to-people ties

• India's Africa policy fits into its Global South leadership strategy; Modi's Africa outreach accelerated India's bid for permanent UNSC membership

• IAFS-I (2008, New Delhi): 14 African nations; IAFS-II (2011, Addis Ababa): 51 nations; IAFS-III (2015, New Delhi): 54 African nations — all 54 invited; India announced $600 million grant + $10 billion credit line

• IAFS-IV priorities: renewable energy, digital economy, health, food security, capacity building, defence cooperation — aligned with Panchamrit commitments and India's development partnership model

• Strategic context: China's deep footprint in Africa (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation - FOCAC) creates competition; India emphasises demand-driven, no-strings-attached development model vs. China's debt-laden infrastructure projects

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — International Relations (India-Africa engagement, Global South, UNSC reform); GS3 — Indian Economy (India's development partnership, credit lines)

📝 Prelims Facts:

• IAFS established: 2008

• IAFS-III (2015): All 54 African nations invited; $600 million grant + $10 billion credit line announced

• IAFS-IV: May 28-31, 2026, New Delhi

• FOCAC: Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (rival mechanism)

🔑 Key Term: India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) — India's apex diplomatic forum for structured engagement with African nations, established in 2008 on the model of FOCAC; focuses on development partnership, trade and people-to-people ties