India has postponed the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit, which was scheduled to take place in New Delhi in May 2026, due to the growing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. The decision follows consultations between India, the African Union Chairperson, and the African Union Commission.
The move comes after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Rising infections and deaths in affected regions have increased global concern over the spread of the virus.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the postponement was made after reviewing the evolving public health situation and assessing the safety of hosting a large international gathering involving multiple African nations.
The India-Africa Forum Summit is considered a major diplomatic platform that strengthens cooperation between India and African countries in areas such as trade, healthcare, technology, energy, education, and security.
Despite the postponement, India reaffirmed its strong support for Africa’s public health response efforts. India stated that it remains ready to assist African nations through medical coordination, capacity-building support, and cooperation with initiatives led by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
India also emphasized that any support would respect the principle of an Africa-led response, reflecting its long-standing partnership and solidarity with African nations during health and humanitarian crises.
