India-Africa Summit Postponed Over Ebola

India and the African Union said on May 21 that they had postponed the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit, which had been scheduled in New Delhi from May 28 to May 31. A joint press release said the two sides had been working closely on the meeting but agreed it would be “advisable” to hold it later because of the “evolving health situation in parts of Africa.” The statement did not name Ebola directly, but the decision came as the World Health Organization has been warning about a growing outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. New dates have not been announced. ### Which summit was delayed, and when was it supposed to happen? The Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit was due to bring African leaders, the African Union Commission and Indian officials to New Delhi at the end of May. India’s foreign ministry had said in April that the meeting would mark the first India-Africa Forum Summit in 11 years and would be held in collaboration with the African Union Commission. (static.au.int) The India-Africa Forum Summit is the main political platform for India’s engagement with African governments. India’s foreign ministry says the summit framework dates to 2008, and the previous edition was held in New Delhi in October 2015. ### What did India and the African Union say about the reason? The May 21 joint press release said India and the African Union “exchanged views on the evolving health situation in parts of Africa” and reaffirmed cooperation on public health preparedness and response. (mea.gov.in) The statement added that consultations involved the Government of India, the chairperson of the African Union and the African Union Commission. (mea.gov.in) India also said it was ready to support efforts led by Africa CDC and national institutions. The statement framed that support as part of an “Africa-led response” and said both sides remained committed to the broader India-Africa partnership. ### What is happening in the Ebola outbreak that shadowed the meeting? The World Health Organization said on May 16 that the Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo virus in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda constituted a public health emergency of international concern. (static.au.int) WHO said the event met that threshold because of the scale of suspected cases, the risk of further spread and the lack of approved vaccines for this virus species. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on May 20 that there were “almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths” linked to the outbreak. He said officials expected those numbers to rise because the virus had circulated before the outbreak was detected and because cases had been reported in several urban areas. (who.int) WHO’s Africa office said Democratic Republic of Congo declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 after laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease in Ituri province. Uganda then confirmed two imported cases on May 15 and 16, according to the same WHO update. (who.int) ### Who was involved in the postponement decision? The African Union’s statement said the postponement followed consultations between the Government of India, the chairperson of the African Union and the African Union Commission. The release did not identify any dissent between the sides and presented the decision as a joint one. Reuters reported that India’s foreign ministry described the move as a response to the “emerging public health situation” in Africa. (afro.who.int) Reuters said that wording was an apparent reference to the Ebola outbreak. ### What happens next? The joint statement said new dates for the summit and its associated meetings would be finalized through mutual consultations and communicated later. (static.au.int) No revised schedule was released on May 21 by either the African Union or India’s foreign ministry. Africa CDC is likely to remain central to the health response language around the summit delay, because the joint statement specifically cited support for Africa CDC and relevant national institutions. (usnews.com) For the diplomatic track, the next formal update is expected to come from the Government of India or the African Union once replacement dates are agreed. (static.au.int)