Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely respected across the African continent and is viewed as a key global leader advocating for the priorities of the Global South, South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, said ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg next week. Modi will travel to South Africa for the November 22–23 gathering, marking his fourth visit to the country in less than a decade—a reflection, Sooklal noted, of India’s deepening engagement with Africa.

Speaking to IANS in New Delhi, Sooklal highlighted that African nations hold Modi in “very high regard” for consistently raising issues central to developing countries. He said India’s commitment to Africa is evident not only in Modi’s repeated visits but also in President Droupadi Murmu’s recent outreach to multiple African nations. “This signifies the importance India places on its relationship with the African continent,” he said.

Sooklal praised India’s pivotal role during its G20 presidency in 2023, which saw the African Union admitted as a full member of the grouping. He described the AU’s inclusion as a landmark achievement “championed by Prime Minister Modi,” adding that African leaders continue to appreciate India’s leadership in making the G20 more inclusive and representative.

During the upcoming summit in Johannesburg, Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are expected to hold a bilateral meeting to assess the status of the partnership and explore new areas of cooperation, including security, people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges, and trade. “India is our third-largest trading partner and one of our most important global partners,” Sooklal said, noting that the relationship has strengthened significantly since South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994.

He also emphasized the historic foundation of India–South Africa ties, recalling India’s early support for the anti-apartheid movement. Today, the partnership spans strategic, economic, developmental, and cultural domains, with sports and heritage cooperation emerging as strong pillars.

African media outlets have also been spotlighting Modi’s role in securing the AU’s permanent G20 membership. According to a report in South Africa’s IOL, the roots of that achievement trace back to Modi’s speech in Uganda seven years ago, where he outlined 10 guiding principles for India–Africa engagement—prioritizing development partnership, digital transformation, agriculture cooperation, maritime security, climate resilience, and reform of global institutions.

With the Johannesburg summit approaching, expectations are high that India and South Africa will build on this momentum to further strengthen their strategic partnership.