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EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : Focus on Africa, the heart of the Global South

 

Source: The Hindu

 

  • Prelims: Current events of international importance, Global South, G20, Washington summit etc
  • Mains GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India and Affecting India’s interests etc

 

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

  • India, through the G20 presidency, intends to be remembered as the voice of the Global South at the heart of which is Africa.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

Global South:

  • The Global South is a term often used to identify regions within Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
  • It is one of a family of terms, including “Third World” and “Periphery“, that denote regions outside Europe and North America.
  • Economies not fully developed: Global South is used to describe countries whose economies are not yet fully developed and which face challenges such as low per capita income, excessive unemployment, and a lack of valuable capital.
  • Located in tropics: Although the majority of Global South countries are indeed located in the tropics or Southern Hemisphere, the term itself is strictly economic.
  • Australia is “down under” but not part of the Global South.

 

Washington summit:

  • The second S.-Africa summit was held in Washington.
  • The leaders of 49 countries and the chair of the African Union (AU) participated from Africa.

Important discussion of the Summit:

  • Political, security, and economic cooperation with Africa.
  • Ways to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and future pandemics
  • Respond to the climate crisis
  • Promote food security and deepen diasporic ties

 

US declaration during the summit:

  • African voices, leadership and innovation are “all critical to addressing the most pressing global challenges” and realizing the vision of a free, open, prosperous and secure world.
  • The U.S. is “all in on Africa and all in with Africa.

 

Decisions taken during the summit:

  • Support for G20: The U.S announced its support for the AU to join the G20 as a permanent member.
  • Fully supports” reforming the UN Security Council (UNSC) to include permanent representation for Africa.
  • A promise for the president and the vice president to visit Africa next year.

 

Investments and Initiatives by the US in Africa:

  • Investments and initiatives: $21 billion to the IMF to provide access to necessary financing for low-and middle-income countries
  • $10 million for a pilot programme to boost the security capacity of its African partners.
  • The administration indicated that it planned to invest $55 billion in Africa over the next three years.

 

China in Africa:

  • It has emerged as the largest trading partner and the fourth largest investor in the African continent, ahead of the U.S
  • China-Africa trade exchanges stood at $254 billion.
    • S.-Africa trade stood at $44.9 billion.
  • China’s total investment in Africa of $4 billion in 2020.
    • The U.S. investment stock in Sub-Saharan Africa was $31 billion.
  • Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC):
    • established in October 2000.
    • The FOCAC is composed of ministers and leaders of Africa and China who meet once in three years, alternately in Beijing and an African capital.
    • Support under FOCAC:
      • One-China Principle
      • Global Development Initiative
      • Belt and Road Initiative
      • vision of “a community with a shared future.
      • China-Africa community

India-Africa:

 

Way Forward

  • To truly represent the South: It is essential to grasp the mood and changes in Africa, especially in its external partnerships.
    • This will determine the contribution India can make to advance the African agenda.
    • The outcome of the S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit needs a critical examination.
  • FOCAC: S. and other nations can take a cue from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC): established in October 2000.
    • The FOCAC is composed of ministers and leaders of Africa and China who meet once in three years, alternately in Beijing and an African capital.
  • India’s equity in Africa is older and richer than that of China and the U.S., but that should not be a source of uncritical satisfaction.
  • Political and economic partnership: India has striven hard to strengthen its political and economic partnership with Africa at the continental, regional and bilateral levels.
    • The government created a special momentum in arranging high-level exchanges and forging cooperation initiatives during the 2015-19 period.
  • The G20 presidency: It is India’s opportunity to ensure that the AU becomes a permanent member of this grouping and to firmly reflect Africa’s Agenda 2063 for development.
  • The fourth India-Africa Forum Summit should be held in early 2024, lest the third summit held in 2015 becomes a distant memory.

 

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

The USA is facing an existential threat in the form of China, that is much more challenging than the erstwhile Soviet Union.” Explain.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)