Attacks on Africans and its effect on Indo-Africa Relationships

In the wake of attacks against African nationals in the country and the murder of Masonga Kitanda Olivier, a 23-year-old Congolese French teacher, envoys of 42 African countries made a call to boycott the Government of India’s “Africa Day” celebrations. Subsequently, after the frantic damage control efforts by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the African envoys participated in the Africa day celebrations.

Key Facts

• Africa Day celebrations are organized by the MEA’s cultural wing, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to mark the founding day of the African Union.
• Though the founding day of African Day falls on May 25, 1963, the Indian government usually organizes the event a day later on May 26 so that it does not clash with the event jointly organized by the African diplomatic missions on May 25.
• India’s post-independence outreach to Africa in particular was motivated by high idealism and commitment to anti-colonialism. In October 2015, five day India-Africa Summit was held in New Delhi for strengthening the ties between India and African countries.
• Both India and African countries have been working towards strengthening geopolitical and economic ties. India has also doubled its assistance to African states by offering $10 billion loan concession and $600 million of grant assistance. Trade has increased from $6 billion in 2005 to $64 billion in 2013.

Questions and Answers

• What are the reasons for the discontent among the African nations?
• What is the stand of the African nations in this issue?
• What are implications for India?
• What are grounds on which Government of India was criticised?
• What are suggestion and way forward for India?

What are the reasons for the discontent among the African nations?

The immediate provocation for boycott was the murder of Masonga Kitanda Olivier by a few locals in Delhi over a trivial issue. In recent years, attacks on Africans have been reported from many places across the country such as Punjab, Goa, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The African nationals believe that attacks on them have racist overtones. There have been a slew of attacks, incidents of mobbing, beating, and stripping of African nationals in various cities on accusations of criminal activities some of which are exaggerated. Last year, an innocent Tanzanian woman was beaten up by a mob in Bengaluru for a road accident caused by another African.

What is the stand of the African nations in this issue?

Concerned over the safety and security and the existence of stereotypes and racial prejudices against Africans, the Heads of Mission of various African countries have stated they have no other option other than to recommend their governments not to send any new students to India. There are around 25,000 African students in India. The envoys had also sent a strong letter to the Indian government demanding safety and security to their nationals. They have also highlighted how India has failed to appreciate Africa’s changing identity and aspirations by not forging constructive people-to-people contact. For their part, the Association of African Students of India had also intended to hold a “March for Justice” rally to condemn the racist attacks, but the rally was put on hold.

Backlash in Congo

There have been incidents of attacks on the Indian community in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa.

What are the implications for India?

• The attacks have made considerable damage to the image of India among the international community. Atithi devo Bhava {Taittiriya Upanishad} seems to have lost relevance in India today. Portraying the attacks as racial is even more embarrassing to India.
• Attacks have the effect of undermining the economic relationship between India and Africa. India is in a contest with China to capture natural resources in Africa. Apart from resources, India sees African nationals as the prospective medical and education tourists.
• Moreover, after incidents of attacks on Indian community in Congo, the safety and security of Indian diaspora in Africa has also emerged as a major concern for India.

What was the reaction of the Indian government?

President PranabMukherjee and Vice President HamidAnsari have reached out to the African community and condemned the violence and have assured safety and protection to them. Ministry of External Affairs has also reached out to the important diplomatic missions from Africa. External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj has assured a speedy trial and harsh punishment to the perpetrators of the crime. She also asked not to view the recent incidents as a premeditated racial crime and categorically stated that the incidents were isolated. Minister of State for External Affairs, V K Singh, had met the heads of missions of African countries in Delhi and assured them that the actions will be taken to allay their concerns.

The government also unleashed some quick reactions to address the issue. The Delhi Police have arrested five persons in the wake of Olivier’s murder. A trust meeting was also held between the local residents and Africans in some South Delhi localities. The government has also launched a sensitization program to address larger concerns regarding the attacks on African nationals.

What are grounds on which Government of India was criticised?

Offensive statements

Some deeply offensive and embarrassing statements have been made by some functionaries. Goa’s Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, has publicly stated that some of the local residents have been deeply annoyed with Nigerians and spoke of deporting them back to their home country. The silence of Prime Minister in not condemning the attacks or overall discrimination is also widely criticized.

Defensive approach

Critics feel that the reaction of the Indian government is insufficient and ineffective. They have also criticized the Indian government for following a defensive approach rather than finding a long term solution. The responses, they say has been made only in the context of the need to maintain diplomatic relations and to prevent unsavoury incidents affecting foreign policy.

What are suggestion and way forward for India?

With the rise of movement of people between India and Africa, the government has to take urgent mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of African nationals. This not only a basic expectation from the African communities but it is also crucial for the economic and political partnership with the African nations.

Sensitization programmes

There is an existing prejudice and stereotype that portray African nationals as lawless and immoral individuals. This underscores the need for public intervention by the media, civil society, think-tanks, research institutes, parliamentarians, politicians and various other stakeholders in addressing stereo-types and racial prejudices against Africans in India. The government should also facilitate appropriate channels of communication to allow for fraternity among African migrants and Indian nationals.

Change of approach

It is also pointed out that the violence is invariably unleashed only against the Black Africans and not on North Africans of Arab descent or Whites with fair skin colour. Indian government should shun its defensive approach and acknowledge that racism has been deeply embedded in social and cultural attitudes and practices. The government should follow long term redressal of grievances rather than adopting short term appeasement policies.

Role of educational institutions

The Educational institutions have to take steps to ensure inclusion of African students on campus, ensure safe and affordable accommodation within or close to campus. They should also help to create conducive channels for the African students to register complaints against acts of discrimination.

Conclusion

The issue cannot be categorized only as a matter of law and order, nor is it something which can be fixed by the Ministry of External Affairs through social media outreach. A combination of legal and social processes should be adopted to help create a more conducive environment for the African nationals.