Droupadi Murmu, President of India, was on a three nation tour to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi from 13th to 19th October 2024.
- The three nation tour aimed to strengthen India’s bilateral relations with these African nations.
Details of the visit:
i.President Murmu visited Algeria from 13th to 15th October2024 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
- She became the first Indian President to visit Algeria since 1985.
ii.She visited Mauritania on 16th October 2024. She became the first high-level dignitary from India to visit Mauritania since its independence in 1960.
iii.She also visited Lilongwe, Malawi from 17th to 19th October 2024 at the invitation of the President of Malawi, H.E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.
Highlights of the President’s Visit to Algeria:
President Murmu visited Martyrs Memorial in Algeria:
i.On 14th October 2024, President Droupadi Murmu visited Maqam Echahid Memorial in Algiers and laid a wreath and paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Algerian War of Independence.
ii.She also visited the National Museum of Moudjahid which preserves the memories of Algeria’s struggle against French colonialism.She also visited the Roman Ruins, Mausoleum, and Hamma Garden.
President Murmu received Honorary Doctorate in Political Science
President Droupadi Murmu was awarded the Honorary Doctorate in Political Science by Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University in Algiers on 14th October 2024.
- She received the honours from Kamal Baddari, Algeria’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Highlights of the Presidents Visit to Mauritania:
Bilateral Meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
On 16th October 2024, President Droupadi Murmu held a bilateral meeting with Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania. She also participated in the delegation-level talks.
- Four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed between India and Mauritania to strengthen the bilateral ties.
Details of the MoUs:
i.Foreign ministries of India and Mauritania signed an agreement to enhance bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest, contributing to international peace and security.
- This will also facilitate the exchange of opinions and consultations between India and Mauritania at various levels.
- This will also enable cooperation in research on foreign policy issues, exchange of archival documents and preparation of compendia of documents and materials related to bilateral relations.
ii.Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service in Delhi and the Diplomatic Academy of ministry of foreign affairs operation and Mauritanian Abroad of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania signed a MoU to enable cooperation in mutually beneficial areas.
iii.India and Mauritania also signed an agreement for the exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.
- This will enable citizens of India and Mauritania who hold such passports to enter each other’s countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa.
iv.India and Mauritania also signed a MoU regarding the India cultural exchange program for the years 2024-2028. This aims to strengthen the friendly links and deepen cultural relations between India and Mauritania especially in the fields of music, dance, theatre, art, archaeology, archives, library, and museum.
Highlights of the President’s Visit to Malawi:
President Murmu Held bilateral meeting with Lazarus Chakwera:
President Droupadi Murmu held a bilateral meeting with Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi to further strengthen the India-Malawi relationship.
- The meeting led to the signing of 4 MoUs: art and culture, cooperation on youth matters, sports cooperation and pharmacopeial cooperation.
Details of the MoUs:
i.The MoU on Sports cooperation include events and activities organised by both countries based on reciprocity and mutual benefit to strengthen and promote cooperation between India and Malawi on sports matters.
ii.The MoU for Cooperation on youth matters will focus on boosting cooperation between India and Malawi in areas such as youth exchange programs, youth conferences, and emerging youth issues among others.
iii.The MoU on Arts and culture aims to deepen the cultural relations between both countries in the fields of music, dance, theater, art, archaeology, archives, library and museum etc.
iv.The MoU for Pharmacopeial cooperation will help in developing generic medicines and availability of affordable medicines in Malawi.
- It will also boost the ability of regulatory public health authorities of both countries to meet the needs of their respective populations and provide opportunities for technical cooperation in areas which are of mutual benefit.
Additional info:
i.India is currently the 4th largest trading partner of Malawi.
ii.India is also one of the largest investors in Malawi, with over USD 500 million worth of investments in various sectors. The scope of investment and cooperation can be enhanced to the fields of agriculture, mining, energy, tourism etc.
iii.India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Malawi immediately after its Independence in 1964.
