Africa: Indian President begins tour in Algeria to strengthen ties with continent

Indian President Droupadi Murmu has landed in Algeria for an African tour that continues in Mauritania and Malawi. A visit described as “historic” by Indian diplomacy. New Delhi wants to embody an economic alternative for African countries in the face of China, with which it is competing for the role of leader of the countries of the South.

This is the first time that an Indian president has visited these three countries. Although power is effectively exercised by the Prime Minister in India, it is a strong signal sent to Africa, after the African Union joined the G20 in September, during India’s presidency of the club.

In Algeria, a country whose aborted entry into BRICS was supported by India, Droupadi Murmu spoke at a bilateral economic forum, alongside President Tebboune. His message: the two countries have shared a friendship since Algerian independence that must now be translated into economic relations.

While India enjoys popularity in Africa linked to the era of the Non-Aligned Movement, it is outpaced by China in terms of presence on the continent. Trade between Africa and India represented 90 billion euros in 2023, compared to 260 billion between Africa and China.

It is with the aim of positioning India as a more transparent and inclusive partner, particularly with regard to debt, that the president is expected to continue her African tour, in Mauritania this Wednesday and then in Malawi from Thursday.