India and Africa: bridging the gap between words and deeds

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between India and Africa, arguing that while India possesses significant comparative advantages based on historical ties and shared developmental goals, there is a persistent gap between its strategic rhetoric and material outcomes. The author identifies structural constraints—including limited fiscal headroom, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and reputational risks—that have caused India to lag behind other global powers like China. The report recommends a coherent Africa strategy focused on low-cost, high-impact initiatives in health, education, and digital finance, utilizing 'anchor states' such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt to scale interventions.

• India possesses distinct comparative advantages for engaging with Africa rooted in historical ties, shared post-colonial values, and similar developmental challenges. These include a diaspora of nearly three million people of Indian origin living across all 54 African countries and a partnership perceived as "fraternal rather than paternalistic."
• There is a significant mismatch between India's stated strategic ambitions and its actual material footprint in Africa. In 2023, India's bilateral credit to Africa was approximately US$4.7 billion, which is substantially lower than China's estimated US$62 billion for the same period. India's trade volume also remains significantly lower than that of China.
• India has successfully exported digital public infrastructure and healthcare solutions to Africa. Examples include Kenya's Huduma Namba identity system, adapted from India's Aadhaar, and Rwanda's Irembo e-government platform, which draws on India's Unified Payments Interface and DigiLocker. Additionally, India supplies an estimated 40% to 45% of Africa's generic medicines.
• Several structural and reputational factors hinder India's engagement. These include limited fiscal headroom (an external development budget of about US$720 million in 2024/25), bureaucratic inefficiencies leading to underused lines of credit, and reputational damage caused by controversies involving business interests like the Gupta family in South Africa and the Adani Group.
• The report proposes a recalibrated strategy focusing on five high-impact areas: filling healthcare gaps left by USAID, expanding education and human capital, enhancing security cooperation (including land-based capacity building), joint ventures in mineral beneficiation (modeled on the diamond sector in Botswana), and integrating digital trade and finance tools.
• To maximize impact, India should utilize four 'anchor states' as regional hubs for piloting and scaling initiatives: South Africa (manufacturing and minerals), Nigeria (energy and West Africa gateway), Kenya (technology and logistics), and Egypt (manufacturing and Mediterranean bridge).

APA

Gopaldas, R. (2026). India and Africa: bridging the gap between words and deeds. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1779880998089-20260527-africa-india-report.pdf

Chicago

Gopaldas, Ronak. India and Africa: bridging the gap between words and deeds. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1779880998089-20260527-africa-india-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gopaldas |first1=Ronak |title=India and Africa: bridging the gap between words and deeds |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=May 2026 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1779880998089-20260527-africa-india-report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gopaldas2026india, author = {Gopaldas, Ronak}, title = {{India and Africa: bridging the gap between words and deeds}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1779880998089-20260527-africa-india-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }