Context
Africa's growing influence in international organisations like the BRICS and G-20 highlights its problems, including bad government, terrorism, tribal conflicts, and more. India's strong ties with Africa can provide innovative solutions through these forums.

What is G20?  
·         The G20 is an informal organisation made up of officials from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund as well as 19 other nations and the European Union.
·         The G20 Presidency is rotated yearly in accordance with a mechanism that over time provides a geographical balance.
·         19 countries are divided into 5 groups of no more than 4 each for the purpose of choosing the president. Between each group, the presidency alternates.
·         The G20 elects a nation from another group to serve as president each year.
·         Along with Russia, South Africa, and Turkey, India is in Group 2.
·         There is no fixed secretariat or headquarters for the G20.
 
What is BRICS? 
·         BRIC, a confederation of four developing economies (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), was first proposed by Jim O'Neil.
·         In 2003, IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) was formed when two of its components teamed up with South Africa.
·         China used its trump card to convert South Africa into BRICS by purchasing it as a member of BRIC.
·         Since 2011, IBSA has been unable to host its summit.
·         In the previous 13 years, BRICS has hosted 14 summits.
 
Issues and Potential Disruptors 
·         Existential Challenges: Corruption, poor planning, tribal dominance, and bad government are problems in Africa.
·         New Disruptors: New dangers include terrorism, urbanisation, food inflation, tribal wars, and youth unemployment.
·         Intervention Complexities: Foreign military interventions exacerbate the situation and frequently prolong dictatorships in order to protect economic interests.
·         Climate Change: A number of African nations are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, including increased temperatures, irregular rainfall, floods, droughts, desertification, and illnesses. The livelihoods, food security, health, and resilience of the population and ecosystems are seriously hampered by these effects.
·         Runaway Food Inflation: Food prices are out of control in many African nations due to a variety of variables, including supply shocks, demand pressures, market distortions, speculation, and currency devaluation. Millions of people, especially the vulnerable and the poor, have less access to food and less purchasing power as a result of these issues.
·         External Interventions: Military actions taken to quell militancy by France, the US, and Russia's Wagner Group have proved that they frequently make matters worse. Costs of these actions include maintaining dictatorships in place to safeguard their economic interests in Libyan oil, Central African Republic gold, and Niger uranium.
·         Return of Military Generals: In the previous ten years, military rulers in Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have taken back control. The armed forces in Sudan and Libya have split up and are fighting for control in the meantime.
·         Geopolitical Tensions: There are historical, economic, and geopolitical aspects to the participation of many global powers in Africa. The US and other former colonial powers like France and the UK have historical and economic ties to the continent.
 
International Support: 
·         China has been the largest investor and trading partner for Africa, but its hunger for the continent's commodities has decreased due to a slowing economy and commerce.
·         Due to their unmanageable debt levels caused by China's Belt and Roads Initiative, certain African nations have given China control of some of their assets.
·         In the past, Russia advertised the Wagner Group in Africa as a quick fix for security. However, the situation remains uncertain in light of the militia's mutiny against the Kremlin and the passing of its leader.
·         The United States has continued to take use of Africa's mineral richness together with France, the United Kingdom, and other colonial countries. Their reach has been constrained by the economic crisis. The primary focus of European concern is preventing illegal migration from African coasts.
 
Developments around Africa 
·         The 15th BRICS summit, with the subject "BRICS and Africa," was held in South Africa on August 23–24.
·         The "global south" and specifically Africa would be discussed at the 18th G-20 Summit, which India will host.
·         The annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly would also begin, and once more the struggles of the Black continent would prickle the conscience of the entire globe.
 
India’s ties with Africa 
·         Deep, varied, and harmonious ties exist between India and Africa, ranging from Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha against apartheid to the UN's work in maintaining peace.
·         In 2022–2023, commerce between India and Africa totalled $98 billion.
·         India continues to have active socioeconomic relations with Africa, particularly in areas like education, health case, telecom, IT, appropriate technology
·         With almost $12 billion in concessional loans, India ranked sixth among investors in Africa.
·         Since 2015, India has completed 197 projects and awarded 42,000 scholarships.
·         Three million people, many of whom have lived there for long years, are of Indian descent.
·         They are the largest non-native ethnic group in Africa.
 
Way Forward 
·         India is in a good position to use its extensive relationship with Africa to aid the continent directly or through these international fora.
·         India will have a historic chance to boost the ante by hosting the G-20 Summit.
In order to create an extensive semi-permanent platform, it might contact like-minded G-20 partners and international organisations.
·         India should combine peacekeeping with the establishment of sociopolitical institutions to bring about political stability and economic growth.
·         India can provide force multipliers like focused investments and the transfer of pertinent and useful Indian innovations, including-
1.      JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile)
2.      DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer)
3.      UPI (Unified Payments Interface)
4.      Aspirational Districts Programme

India can transform the India-Africa ecosystem into an illustrative win-win paradigm for the twenty-first century by providing a more democratic and less exploitative option.
  
LTX Mains Question
Q. “The African continent is currently grappling with multiple political turmoils”. In this regard, discuss the potential impacts of these turmoils on India and define the strategies that India can adopt to contribute to the maintenance of stability in the region.