The African Union and the Government of India have mutually postponed the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit over concerns about the public health risks posed by the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.
The summit, which was scheduled to take place from May 28 to 31, 2026, in New Delhi, India, was expected to strengthen bilateral relations, trade, investment, and diplomatic cooperation between India and African states.
However, the event was abruptly deferred after both parties acknowledged the growing Ebola outbreak as a significant public health concern.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after determining that the outbreak met the criteria under Article 1 of the International Health Regulations (2005).
The declaration followed reports of eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths recorded in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of May 16, 2026.
As of May 20, 2026, suspected cases had reportedly risen to more than 600, with 139 suspected Ebola-related deaths and 35 confirmed cases recorded across affected areas in the DRC and neighboring Uganda.
Due to the rapid spread of the outbreak, several countries have intensified health surveillance measures. The United States has directed that travelers and green card holders arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan must enter through Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced Ebola screening procedures coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
In a press statement, the African Union indicated that consultations were held with the Government of India, during which both sides agreed to prioritize public health preparedness and strengthen cooperation with national health institutions and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The statement further noted that both parties agreed to defer the summit to a later date to allow ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak and reinforce health systems aimed at limiting further transmission.
“Recognizing the importance of ensuring the full participation and engagement of African leaders and stakeholders, and mindful of the emerging public health situation on the continent, consultations were held between the Government of India, the Chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union Commission regarding the holding of the Summit and associated activities.
“Following these consultations, the two sides agreed that it would be advisable to convene the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit at a later date,” the statement said.
The consultations have also opened the door for further engagements to determine a mutually convenient date for the summit, which remains a major platform for strengthening India–Africa relations through diplomacy, trade, investment, technology transfer, and development cooperation.
Both parties reaffirmed their partnership founded on solidarity, mutual respect, South–South cooperation, and a shared commitment to peace, development, prosperity, and the well-being of their peoples.
The India–Africa Forum Summit is the premier platform for cooperation between India and African countries under the African Union framework. Established in 2008, the forum serves as a high-level mechanism for political dialogue, economic cooperation, development partnerships, and strategic engagement between India and the African continent.
The summit focuses on key areas including trade and investment, infrastructure development, healthcare, agriculture, digital technology, education, energy, security cooperation, and capacity building. Over the years, India has extended billions of dollars in concessional credit lines and development assistance to African countries through projects in railways, power generation, ICT, healthcare, and rural development.
The first India–Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi in 2008, bringing together India and representatives from 14 African countries selected by the African Union. The second summit took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2011, while the third summit was hosted in New Delhi in 2015 with participation from all 54 African states and more than 40 African Heads of State and Government, making it one of the largest diplomatic gatherings hosted by India.
Previous summits produced major outcomes including the India–Africa Framework for Strategic Cooperation, expanded scholarship opportunities for African students, enhanced defense and maritime security cooperation, increased trade partnerships, and development financing for infrastructure and industrialization projects across the continent.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated surfaces linked to infected persons or animals. According to the WHO, the virus can also spread through contact with infected corpses during burial rites and through exposure in healthcare settings where infection prevention measures are inadequate.
To contain the outbreak, health authorities and governments have intensified surveillance, contact tracing, isolation of suspected cases, public awareness campaigns, border health screenings, and infection prevention measures in hospitals and communities. The WHO and Africa CDC have also deployed emergency response teams, laboratory support, and medical supplies to affected regions to curb further spread of the virus.
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