India and African Union postpone summit amid Ebola crisis in DR Congo
The 2026 India-Africa Forum Summit has been delayed following the confirmation of the first Ebola case in the rebel-held South Kivu province, complicating diplomatic engagements across the continent.
India and the African Union have jointly announced the postponement of the 2026 India-Africa Forum Summit, originally scheduled to take place in New Delhi from 28 to 31 May. The decision, issued on Thursday by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the African Union, cites the "evolving public health situation" in Africa as the primary driver for the delay.
In a joint statement, the two institutions acknowledged the importance of ensuring the full participation of African leaders and stakeholders. They determined that it would be advisable to hold the summit at a later date, reflecting a cautious approach to the emerging health crisis on the continent. The statement did not elaborate further on specific health concerns, but the timing coincides with a severe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The postponement follows the confirmation of the first Ebola case in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province, an area currently controlled by the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 militia. The armed group’s spokesman confirmed that tests from the provincial capital, Bukavu, identified a positive case involving a 28-year-old individual who died before diagnosis. The deceased had travelled from Kisangani in the Tshopo province, where no current outbreak infections have been recorded.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The current epidemic, driven by the Bundibugyo variant of the virus, has resulted in nearly 600 probable cases and 139 deaths, with the epicentre located in the Ituri province. Notably, no vaccine or clinical treatment currently exists for this specific strain of the virus.
Humanitarian response efforts are being significantly hampered by the region’s protracted conflicts and logistical challenges. The AFC/M23 militia, which seized control of South Kivu in February 2025 and Goma in January 2025, has established a parallel administration, complicating aid distribution. Furthermore, humanitarian organisations are facing budget cuts, including reductions in US aid under President Donald Trump, who previously withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization.
