With SA President Cyril Ramaphosa's presence at Republic Day, India consolidates ties with African continent

The visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's comes even as New Delhi tries to increase engagement with the continent where China has made rapid strides.  

Ramaphosa, along with his wife and First lady of SA, Tshepo Motsepe, arrived in New Delhi on January 25. 

It's the 11th time an African leader has been called at India's Republic Day since 1950. In 1971, India invited the then President of Tanzania Julius Nyerere as the chief guest. He was the first African leader to be at present during India's Republic Day. 

Before 2019, it was in 2002 when India invited an African leader. The then President of Mauritius Cassam Uteem was invited as the chief guest. 

Speaking on Africa day on January 18 in Gandhinagar during Vibrant Gujarat Summit, External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had said, "India has always shared a special bond with the people of Africa and supported their liberation from colonialism and from apartheid. We take pride in our model of cooperation with Africa which is demand-driven, consultative, participative, involves local resources, builds capacity and is based on Africa’s own prioritisation of its needs." 

In the last four years, there have been 29 visits to Africa at the president, vice president, and prime minister level, while 35 African leaders have visited India. 

AFRICAN LEADERS AT REPUBLIC DAY SINCE 1950

1971 President Julius Nyerere                             Tanzania 
1972 Prime Minister Seewoosagur Ramgoolam  Mauritius 
1973 President Mobutu Sese Seko                      Zaire (Now DRC) 
1975 President Kenneth Kaunda                          Zambia 
1983 President Shehu Shagari                             Nigeria 
1990 Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth                Mauritius 
1995 President Nelson Mandela                           South Africa 
2000 President Olusegun Obasanjo                     Nigeria   
2001 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.                    Algeria 
2002 President Cassam Uteem                            Mauritius 

The 3rd India Africa summit in 2015 was one of the biggest diplomatic engagement under the Modi government and saw the participation of 41 heads of state and governments. 

New Delhi has already announced that it will open 18 new embassies and high commissions in Africa. Only last year, India opened its new mission in Rwanda, which is the current chair for African Union. 

When it comes to trade ties, India is the 3rd largest export destination to the continent and 5th largest investor. 

India, since the past several years, on Republic day, not only highlights its achievements but also invites countries to showcase special bonds and increased engagement with the region or a specific country. 

Last year India invited all 10 heads of the ASEAN group. During the 1st Republic Day under the Narendra Modi government, India invited US President Barack Obama, followed by French President François Hollande and then in 2017, UAE's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Neighbouring countries 

India has been inviting its neighbouring countries on Republic Day. Bhutanese Kings were the chief guest at republic day parade in 1954, 1984, 2005, 2013. Afghanistan's King Mohammed Zahir Shah was the chief guest in 1967. Nepal's King Tribhuvan was the guest of honour in 1951 while King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was the guest in 1999. Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was the chief guest in 1991. Sri Lanka was guest in 1974 and 1988.  

It is interesting to note that the head of Pakistan was present twice during Republic Day celebrations. In 1955, Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad was the guest at the 1st Republic day parade at Rajpath and then again in 1965 Pakistan's Food and Agriculture Minister Rana Abdul Hamid Food was invited. Both countries went to war later that year.  

Even China has been invited on the occasion. In 1958, Marshall Ye Jianying was the chief guest during the celebrations. Bangladesh, however, has never been present. 

World Powers on Republic Day 

Russia has been invited only once. In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin had arrived. Before this, the Soviet Union was invited thrice- in 1957, 1960 and 1968. 

The United Kingdom and France are at a tie with both the countries being invited five times. The UK in 1956, 1959, 1961(Queen Herself), 1964 (Lord Mountbatten, a man who oversaw India's partition) and 1993. France was invited in 1976, 1980, 1998, 2008 and 2016.