The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was held in New Delhi, India from 26–30 October 2015. The five-day summit started with consultations on official level followed by the head of states/governments level summit on 29 October 2015 with scheduled bilateral meetings on 30 October 2015. This is going to be India's biggest diplomatic outreach involving delegates from a large number of African nations.
Background The Summit was earlier scheduled to be held in December 2014, with a three-year gap after the 2011 Summit in Addis Ababa. But Syed Akbaruddin, the official spokesperson of Indian Foreign Ministry, told the media that the scheduled summit was postponed to 2015 and would include a higher number of African leaders unlike the previous two summits where the event was restricted to only 10–15 African countries. Although media reports claimed that Ebola outbreak in Western African nations played key role behind the postponement of the summit.
Invitations were sent out to all 54 African nations through the respective Indian missions but it was not delivered only in Libya, as there is no government functioning at the time, and the Indian embassy also had to move to Tunisia. India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj herself handed over the invitation to South African President Jacob Zuma during her visit to the African country in May 2015.
Logo The logo depicts a lion with one half of an African lion and another half of an Indian lion. The official website mentioned about the logo: "Proud, Courageous, Bold and on the Prowl, ready to take on the future and seize every opportunity". In the background African map overlapping merges with Indian map in a reference to ancient Gondwanaland when Indian subcontinent used to be part of today's Africa's continental landmass millions of years ago. The India Gate, one of the iconic landmark of Delhi, the host city will be illuminated with 3D laser projection showing India-Africa shared heritage and India's contribution in African peace and prosperity, throughout the summit week.
Participants The host country, India, had sent invitations to all 54 African head of state/government and trying to ensure maximum participation at the highest level. As of September 2015, the following dignitaries were expected to attend the summit in Delhi, India.
Country Title Leader Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal Vice President Manuel Vicente President Yayi Boni Minister of Foreign Affairs Phandu Skelemani Minister of Foreign Affairs Moussa Nébié First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Homero Tolentino Araujo President Idriss Déby Minister of Foreign Affairs Lejeune Mbella Mbella Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Julienne Desiree Gaudeuille President Ikililou Dhoinine Minister of Industry and Mines Brou Kasi Jean-Claude Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Claude Gakosso President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Minister of Foreign Affairs Raymond Tshibanda President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Minister of Foreign Affairs Osman Saleh President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn President Ali Bongo Ondimba Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy President John Dramani Mahama President Alpha Condé President José Mário Vaz President Uhuru Kenyatta Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani President Hery Rajaonarimampianina Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth King Mohammed VI President Filipe Nyusi President Hage Geingob President Mahamadou Issoufou President Muhammadu Buhari Prime Minister G Anastase Murekezi Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada President Macky Sall President James Michel President Ernest Bai Koroma President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud President Jacob Zuma President Salva Kiir Mayardit President Omar Hassan Ahamed Albashir King Mswati III Vice President Mohamed Gharib Bilal Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey Foreign Minister Taïeb Baccouche President Yoweri Museveni Vice President Inonge Wina President Robert Mugabe
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