PROGRAMM
Inaugural Session 9:30 AM-10:00
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9:30AM-9:35 AM
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Welcome and Introductions by Moderator
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Prof. Ajay K. Dubey, Chairperson, Centre for African Studies, JNU and Secretary General, ASA India
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9:35 AM-9:40AM
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About ASA India Young Scholar Initiative
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Prof. Aparajita Biswas, President, ASA, Mumbai University
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9:40 AM-9:45 AM
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Special Remarks
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Amb. Virendra Gupta (Rtd. IFS)Former Visiting Professor, African Studies, JNU
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9:45AM 9: 48AM
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Introduction of Theme
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Dr Sushmita Rajwar, Convener,(DU & ASA Researcher)
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9:48 AM- 9:58 AM
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Inaugural Address
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Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, JNU
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9:58AM:10:00AM
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Vote of Thanks
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Ms Aarshi Dua, Ph.D Researcher, Centre for African Studies, JNU, Co-convener
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Technical Session I 10:00 AM- 11:50 AM
Covid-19 situation in Africa: How the continent is coping with the crisis and the consequences?
Moderator: Dr. Bijay Pratihari, Faculty Member, Academy of International Studies, JMI, Delhi
Speakers: Dr. Ghazali Bello Abubakar, Assistant Prof. Sokoto University, Nigeria
Dr. Sushmita Rajwar, Convenor & Faculty, University of Delhi
Dr. Gayettri Dixit, Assistant Prof., Centre for African Studies, SIS, JNU
Dr. Rashmi Rani Anand, Faculty, University of Delhi
Dr. Aparna Bose, PhD from Department of African Studies, Mumbai University
Mr. AS Rawokmi Zimik, PhD Scholar, Department of African Studies, University of Delhi
Ms. Chandani Tiwari, PhD Scholar, Centre for African Studies, SIS, JNU
Dr. Kirill Aleshin, Coordinator of the Junior Scholars Council, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Technical Session II 12:00 PM-1:45 PM
Engagement with Traditional Partners in Africa and AFRICOM
Moderator: Dr. Sushmita Rajwar, ASA Researcher & Faculty, University of Delhi
Speakers: Mr. Nyongesa Lemmy, PhD Candidate, Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Air Commodore (Dr.) Rahul Maslekar; Recent PhD from Mumbai University
Dr. Philipp Gieg, Wurzburg University, Germany
Ms. Khachungla Chalhang, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi
Ms. Meghna Murlidharan, PhD Scholar, Centre for African Studies, SIS,
Mr. Subh Kirti Singh, PhD Scholar, Centre for European Studies, SIS, JNU
Dr. Wanda YENG-SENG BROSSARD, Sr. Lecturer, University of Reunion, France
Technical Session III 2:15 PM-3:50 PM
China as a Major Partner of Africa: Burden of Financial Imperialism
Moderator :Dr. Jyoti Tyagi, Associate Editor, Diaspora Studies; Duesseldorf, Germany.
Speakers :Ms. Busiswa Sobahle, Department of Political Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Ms. Uma, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi
Dr. Abhishek Darbey, Centre for East Asian Studies, JNU
Dr. Ruchi Verma, Research Fellow, Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad,
Dr. Shaantanu, PhD. from Department of African Studies, Mumbai University
Mr. Samir Bhattacharya, PhD Scholar, Centre for African Studies, SIS, JNU
Dr. Raymond LAU Kwun-Sun, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
Technical Session IV 4:00 PM-5:45 PM
Challenges and Opportunities for Engagement with Emerging India and the Global South.
Moderator: Dr. Rajneesh Gupta, Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat
Speakers: Ms. Fleachta Phelan, (Ireland) PhD Scholar,
Ms. Aarshii Dua, PhD Scholar, Centre for African Studies, SIS, JNU
Mr. Aditya Anshu, PhD Scholar, Centre for African Studies, SIS, JNU
Ms. Ivy Handique, PhD Scholar, Centre for African Studies, SIS, JNU
Dr. Neha Sinha, Research Fellow, ICWA
Mr. Randhir Kumar, PhD Scholar, Department of African Studies, University of Delhi
CONCEPT NOTE
“Options of Africa in Corona Crisis Under AFRICOM and Financial Clout of China: Comparative Challenges and Opportunities of Engagement with India and Global South”
As the situation of Covid-19 worsens in many of the countries around the globe, Africa also has stepped up its various mechanisms to control the pandemic throughout the continent. In February, 2020 the continent witnessed its first case in Egypt which followed to other countries. There have been many concerns regarding the spread of Covid-19 in African continent as it does not possess a very well-developed healthcare system as compared to other nations. The presence of pre-existing diseases in the continent like malaria, HIV, TB, Cholera and Ebola creates further issues for diagnosing and treating this new virus.
Africa is also engaged with its traditional powers in trade and foreign direct investment. These traditional powers have been able to maintain good trade relations with many of the African countries. USA also established its African Command known as AFRICOM in 2007 that took all the attention of the whole world. This brought in USA with its biggest military cooperation project to African continent.
China is one the biggest emerging partners in Africa. China established its Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000 as an official forum to strengthen the relationship with the African countries. In terms of trade China quickly surpassed the traditional partners in Africa and became Africa’s biggest trading partner. China has given African countries huge grants in aid to overcome their financial burdens. At the same time, China is quite influential in trading palatial headquarters, presidential palaces or stadiums for oil refineries, coal mines, copper and more.
During this crisis China has already faced backlash from the African continent because of the ill-treatment of African citizens in China earlier this year. Now, China has actively stepped up to help African nations as a part of its image as Global humanitarian. At the gathering of World Health Organisation (WHO) member states, Chinese Premier pledged US $2 billion to WHO to assist developing economies for COVID 19 crisis and also committed to 30 hospitals in Africa, setting up a pan-African health authority on the continent.
On the other hand, India’s Africa policy is mainly guided by its shared historical linkages and good will and in recent times the government has been emphasizing on rebooting its Africa’s policy. India strives to maintain its medical diplomacy with the African continent. India’s relationship with Africa is multidimensional and it has been engaging with some of the key African countries in different areas mainly Energy security, Diaspora, Bilateral aid and Diplomacy.
India maintaining its cordial relationship with the African continent has proactively reached out to help them in this crucial time. India has been resorting to its pharma diplomacy, one of the major areas of cooperation between India and Africa. Out of 50 countries that India sent its first batch of hydroxychloroquine, 20 were from Africa. Huge supply of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol has been sent to Seychelles by the Indian government. The Indian Prime Minister and heads of various African countries have been constantly in talks with each other as huge Indian Diaspora is present in the African continent, one of the key player in India’s foreign policy.
The current challenges in post corona period would be to facilitate development of an adequate healthcare structure throughout Africa in order to manage a crisis like Covid 19. Another problem is the amount of debts that African countries are not in a position to pay today and therefore debt forgiveness has a crucial role to pay in Africa. How can the present partners of Africa provide assistance to Africa is the question to be asked? And in this whole situation how can India emerge as a special partner that can fulfil the required assistance to African nations and at the same time satisfy their needs.
With all these dimensions the webinar would discuss the following themes:
- Covid-19 situation in Africa: How the continent is coping with the crisis and suffer the consequences?
- Engagement with Traditional Partners in Africa and AFRICOM
- China as a Major Partner of Africa: Burden of Financial Imperialism
- Challenges and Opportunities for Engagement with Emerging India and the Global South.
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