Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union, on September 13, 2026, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The meeting focused on strengthening India’s partnership with the African Union and expanding India-Burundi relations. The two leaders highlighted the importance of India-Africa cooperation within the Global South and discussed the early holding of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit. They also reviewed cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, development partnership, youth skills and capacity building. The meeting added another important India-Africa engagement to the BRICS Summit.Why Did PM Meet Burundi President?Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Évariste Ndayishimiye to discuss stronger cooperation between India, Burundi and the wider African Union. Ndayishimiye was serving as the Chairperson of the African Union during 2026. The leaders recalled India’s role in bringing the African Union into the G20 as a permanent member during India’s 2023 presidency. They also discussed strengthening the India-Africa partnership and taking forward shared development priorities.Modi met Ndayishimiye on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.Ndayishimiye was President of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union.Both leaders discussed the India-African Union partnership within the Global South.They discussed holding the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit at an early date.India-Burundi cooperation was reviewed across several development-focused areas.India Africa Partnership Gains FocusThe meeting reflected India’s continuing effort to strengthen its engagement with African countries. During India’s G20 presidency in 2023, the African Union became a permanent member of the G20, a move that India described as strengthening the voice of the Global South. Modi and Ndayishimiye recalled this development while discussing the wider India-Africa partnership.The two leaders also discussed the early convening of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit. India and African countries have used the forum to discuss development cooperation and shared priorities. The proposed meeting was therefore an important part of the discussions between the two leaders during the BRICS gathering.Also Read: 18th BRICS Summit and the New Delhi Declaration Builds Global Consensus TodayIndia Burundi Ties ReviewedThe talks also covered India-Burundi relations, which both sides described as being based on warmth, solidarity and shared development goals. Modi and Ndayishimiye reviewed cooperation in economic relations, development partnership, agricultural modernisation, healthcare and capacity-building initiatives.Modi also commended the African Union’s efforts in responding to the Ebola outbreak. Ndayishimiye appreciated medical support provided by India to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to help address the outbreak. This highlighted the role of healthcare cooperation in India-Africa relations.Key HighlightsPM India met Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye in New Delhi.Ndayishimiye was also Chairperson of the African Union in 2026.India-Africa cooperation was discussed as an important Global South partnership.Both leaders discussed the early convening of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit.Agriculture, healthcare, youth skills and development cooperation were among the areas reviewed.India’s medical support to Africa CDC during the Ebola response was acknowledged.India Africa Cooperation StrengthenedThe meeting between PM India and Burundi’s President came during a wider BRICS Summit that brought several global leaders to New Delhi. For India, the talks provided an opportunity to deepen relations with both Burundi and the African Union. The discussions also showed the focus on development cooperation and capacity building in India’s engagement with Africa.The proposed early meeting of the India-Africa Forum Summit and discussions on healthcare, agriculture and youth skills gave the engagement a practical focus. The meeting therefore added to India’s broader efforts to strengthen partnerships across the African continent.Disclaimer: This article is provided only for knowledge purposes and to provide news information based on official sources.
