India, Nov. 7 -- President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Angola and Botswana will deepen India's engagement with Africa. In 2024, she visited Mauritius, Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi. Both Angola and Botswana are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU): Angola is the current chair of the AU. The visit comes against the backdrop of high-level exchanges: The president of Angola visited India in May 2024, while Botswana's president last visited India in December 2006. In in the interim, Indian vice presidents visited Botswana in 2010 and 2018.

As preparations gather pace for the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV), expected next year, Murmu's trip signals continuity, high-level attention,...