New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu returned to Delhi, marking the end of her six-day state visit to Angola and Botswana, during which she emphasized India’s strong dedication to enhancing relations with both nations across multiple sectors, including energy, trade, and investment.
This visit marked the first time an Indian President has traveled to these two African countries.
The two-part state visit took place from November 8 to 13, starting in Luanda, the capital of Angola, and concluding in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.
The ‘India One’ VVIP aircraft, which transported the President, landed at the Air Force Station Palam after departing from Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone.
During her bilateral discussions with the Presidents of the two nations, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola and Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana, Murmu reiterated India’s commitment to fortifying relations by fostering new cooperation in various sectors while also enhancing existing partnerships.
Murmu informed the Angolan leadership that Indian oil and gas companies are eager to establish a “long-term” purchase agreement with them to fulfill the nation’s energy needs, and they are also interested in investing in petroleum refining and the exploration of critical and rare earth minerals.
She stated that there are “unlimited possibilities” for enhancing the relationship between the two nations in the sectors of energy, agriculture, food processing, and medicine, while also offering the high-speed ‘Vande Bharat’ trains to the Atlantic Ocean bordering nation to improve its rail transport infrastructure.
During Murmu’s visit, Angola also consented to join the International Big Cat Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance, both initiatives spearheaded by India.
The second phase of her visit included Murmu symbolically receiving eight Botswanan cheetahs as part of an ambitious translocation agreement for the big cats to India, which have been extinct in the country since the mid-1950s.
She also observed the release of two cheetahs into a quarantine enclosure at a nature reserve alongside President Boko.
Boko described Murmu’s visit as “historic,” marking the first occasion an Indian head of state has visited his country, and it was also the inaugural visit by a foreign leader since he assumed office in November 2024.
“The honorable President’s visit to Africa, specifically to Angola and Botswana, underscores the importance that the Government of India places on its engagement with the African continent as a whole,” stated Sudhakar Dalela, secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, during a pre-departure press briefing on Thursday in Gaborone.
He further noted that the visit signifies India’s “strong commitment” to enhancing partnerships with the African region, particularly within the framework of the India-Africa Forum Summit.
The secretary expressed optimism, stating that India is “very hopeful that these cheetahs will relocate to India in the not-too-distant future.”
During this visit, India also entered into two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Angola, one concerning cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture, and marine resources, and the other pertaining to consular matters.
Additionally, India and Botswana signed an MoU aimed at facilitating the provision of quality and affordable medicines to the southern African nation, which is predominantly covered by the Kalahari Desert, with 70 percent of its area being desert.
Murmu participated in the 50th Independence Day celebrations of Angola on November 11 and addressed the Members of Parliament from both nations.
