India-Africa Forum summit in Delhi postponed amid Ebola outbreak: MEA

New Delhi : India and the African Union have postponed the fourth edition of the India-Africa Forum Summit, which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 28 to 31 May, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

While no official reason was given for the postponement, sources said concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus in parts of Africa prompted the decision. The MEA said fresh dates for the summit and related meetings would be finalised through mutual consultations.

The decision followed discussions between Indian authorities, the Chairperson of the African Union and the African Union Commission on the feasibility of holding the summit and associated events under the current circumstances.

In a statement, the MEA said India and the African Union had reviewed the evolving health situation in parts of Africa and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in strengthening public health preparedness and response capacities across the continent, including support for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and national institutions.