Hectic parleys with African envoys helped the Government avoid a major diplomatic embarrassment on Thursday when a large number of ambassadors, who had earlier urged postponement of the Africa Day celebrations in the wake of the recent killing of a Congolese national, finally graced the occasion.
Meanwhile, as a fallout of the Congolese youth’s killing in Delhi, the Indian community in Congo was targeted and some shops owned by them were attacked. Seven Indian nationals were injured in the attack, two of them seriously.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the African envoys had expressed unhappiness over attacks on their nationals in India and urged the organiser, Indian Council of Cultural Affairs (ICCR), to defer the event in the wake of the murder of Masonda Ketada Oliver in Delhi.
However, the MEA team, led by Minister of State VK Singh and Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha managed to persuade the African envoys to attend the function. Singh convinced the envoys that the attack on Oliver was not racial but a criminal act by anti-social elements. The Minister also stressed that this was not a premeditated act hence it cannot be seen as a racial attack.
“We do not look upon this incident as something that can be forgotten, but something that has to be acted upon. The fear of African nationals is genuine and it can happen to any community not just them because criminals do exist in every society,” Singh said on Thursday at the Africa Day celebrations.
Singh said he hoped that such incidents will not recur. “On behalf of my Ministry and the Government of India, I deeply condemn the brutal murder of Mr Masonda Ketada Oliver, a Congolese national. We are shocked by the sad demise of a young African student in our country. Expressing solidarity with our African brethren, I condemn such heinous crimes and hope that these are not repeated in future,” the Minister said.
Sources said that Indian officials and the MoS assured fast-track justice in this case.
It is also learnt that the Indian officials took up with African envoys the retaliatory attack on Indians in Congo’s capital Kinshasa where their establishments and shops were attacked. The incident occurred shortly after Oliver’s death. About seven Indians are believed to have been injured in the attacks on the community in Kinshasa. Two Indians are in hospital with serious injuries.
MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said a Note Verbale was issued to Congo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this episode.
In New Delhi, Swarup said the Government will continuously monitor the situation besides putting in place a regular interaction mechanism for African heads of missions with the Indian Foreign Ministry leadership, to sort out any issues.
“Thousands of African students continue to benefit from the Indian education system without any issues. We are committed to work closely with the African diplomatic and student communities to ensure full safety and security of all African students in India. The External Affairs Minister (Sushma Swaraj) is personally monitoring this matter. We are also instituting a practice of regular interactions with African heads of missions. MOS, VK Singh, will also do an outreach with the African student community. I would like to reiterate that India remains open to our brothers and sisters from Africa and there should no cause for concern.”
Meanwhile, speaking at the ICCR event, Sola Enikanolaiye, acting High Commissioner of Nigeria, said: “Racism against black Africans in India is a major concern. Recent incidents in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and in Delhi last week and several such incidents in the last three years, counting Goa, has given cause for very serious concern. Ideas of brotherhood and friendship will remain hollow if Africans don’t feel safe in India.”
Eritrea Ambassador Alem Tsehaye Woldemariam, who is also the Dean of African heads of missions expressed satisfaction with the Indian reach out. “We are happy with the efforts of the Government of India… No one had expected such an incident. We have to resolve such situations and ensure India-Africa relations remain good,” he said.