INDIA, AFRICAN UNION POSTPONE FOURTH INDIA-AFRICA FORUM SUMMIT OVER HEALTH CONCERNS
Oru Leonard
The Government of India and the African Union have agreed to postpone the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV), initially scheduled to hold in New Delhi from May 28 to 31, 2026, due to evolving public health concerns in parts of Africa.
This was disclosed in a joint press statement issued on Thursday following consultations between the Government of India, the Chairperson of the African Union and the African Union Commission.
According to the statement, both sides reviewed the current health situation across parts of the African continent and reaffirmed the need for stronger cooperation in public health preparedness and emergency response efforts.
India reiterated its solidarity with African countries and pledged support for initiatives led by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and relevant national health institutions to address the evolving situation.
The statement noted that the decision to postpone the summit was taken to ensure full participation and engagement of African leaders and stakeholders amid the emerging health challenges.
“Following these consultations, the two sides agreed that it would be advisable to convene the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit at a later date,” the statement said.
It added that new dates for the summit and related meetings would be announced after further consultations between both parties.
Despite the postponement, India and the African Union reaffirmed their longstanding partnership built on solidarity, mutual respect, South-South cooperation and a shared commitment to peace, development and prosperity.
The India-Africa Forum Summit is a major platform for political and economic engagement between India and African nations, focusing on trade, investment, health, security, education and development cooperation.
