On 13th November, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted an interaction with the delegation from Kenya led by Ms. Roseline K. Njogu, Principal Secretary, State Department for Diaspora Affairs. Other members of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs participating in the discussion were, Mr Boniface K Munzala, Director, Investments and Remittances, Ms Emma Gicheha, Director, Welfare & Rights, Mr William Maundu, Senior Economist, Third Secretaries-Mr Meisashi Ledama, Mr Philip Opwora, Ms Shukri Abdi Sirat along with the Kenya High Commissioner, Mr.

The India-Africa partnership has recorded considerable progress in recent years but realizing its full potential needs serious introspection and an objective appraisal. Armed with this conviction, the Vivekananda International Foundation’s Africa Expert Group undertook a comprehensive study of various aspects of the two geographies amidst quickly evolving international dynamics. While African countries continue to go through political, diplomatic, security and socio-economic transitions, their population, economic potential and political influence in world affairs is set to increase.

… Western Saharan conflict is one of the world's most underlooked conflicts .. it is crucial to indigenous Sahrawis and their kin in southern Morocco, northern Mauritania and western Algeria .. UN has so far failed in providing the groundwork for self-determination and decolonisation .. with European and American interests intertwined in the conflict, the North African stand-off must be resolved …

Shri Puneet Roy Kundal, Joint Secretary, MEA, former Ambassador of India in Tunisia and Consul General of India in Cape Town, highlighted Africa's strategic importance for India in his remarks. He mentions that MEA considers the relationship with Africa historical, forming the genesis of our current trade and people-to-people relations. India has always been present in Africa during its anti-colonial struggles or post-colonial nation-building or capacity-building initiatives.