Focus: Indian Ocean Rim | 10th October 2023

India’s key Indian Ocean Region partner Tanzania elevated its strategic partnership with New Delhi during the state visit by its President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The two sides inked six pacts to boost cooperation in several key areas and agreed on a five-year roadmap to significantly expand defence engagement. India is discussing trade in local currencies with Tanzania and this will make it first African country to have trade with India in local currencies. Meanwhile politics in Indian Ocean Island state of Madagascar turned murky last week with former Madagascar president Marc Ravalomanana claiming that he had sustained a leg injury when police and soldiers fired teargas to disperse a gathering of his supporters. In Mozambique the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$ 1.5 million (JP¥ 200 million) from the Government of Japan to provide life-saving assistance to 50,000 people in northern Mozambique. Japan has described Mozambique as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region.   

India, Tanzania elevate ties to strategic partnership; agree on 5-yr roadmap for defence cooperation

The Indian Express | 10^th October 2023

India and Tanzania on Monday elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership, inked six pacts to boost cooperation in several key areas and agreed on a five-year roadmap to significantly expand defence engagement at talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. In his media statement after the talks, Modi said both sides are also working on an agreement to increase trade in local currencies, and described Tanzania as a “valued partner” in the Indo-Pacific. The prime minister said steps are being taken to adopt the success story of UPI in Tanzania and that both sides will continue to explore new opportunities to realise the full potential of the economic cooperation.

India discussing local currency trade with Tanzania

Reuters | 9^th October 2023  

India is discussing trade in local currencies with Tanzania, a foreign ministry official said on Monday adding that New Delhi has pushed for trade in rupees. Tanzania has also sought additional lines of credit from India in defence and other sectors, above the $1.1 billion offered by India previously, Dammu Ravi, a secretary at the foreign ministry, told reporters at a briefing on the visit of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to India.

Madagascar presidential candidate injured after opposition rally teargassed

Reuters | 7^th October 2023

Former Madagascar president Marc Ravalomanana said he had sustained a leg injury on Saturday when police and soldiers fired teargas to disperse a gathering of his supporters and those of other candidates challenging the incumbent president. The Indian Ocean Island is hoping for its third peaceful election since the upheaval of 2009 when incumbent president Andry Rajoelina ousted Ravalomanana in a coup.

Japan helps violence-affected people in northern Mozambique

Club of Mozambique | 6^th October 2023

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$ 1.5 million (JP¥ 200 million) from the Government of Japan to provide life-saving assistance to 50,000 people in northern Mozambique. Thanks to Japan’s contribution, WFP will provide rice and canned fish to people affected by the conflict at a critical time when over 3.3 million people are facing acute food insecurity in Mozambique, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). “Mozambique has been Japan’s crucial partner within a strategic plan of Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) as Japan’s Prime Minister, Kishida Fumio, expressed in a visit to the country in May this year,” says Kimura Hajime, Ambassador of Japan to Mozambique. “This new food assistance, with a close partnership with WFP, reflects our strong commitment to people in Mozambique and our friendship.”

Maghrib Minute: Oman’s Foreign Minister, UN Envoy review situations in Yemen

Times of Oman | 4^th October 2023

Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi has received in Muscat Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy to Yemen. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the situations in Yemen and the efforts exerted to reach a peaceful solution that serves the Yemeni people and establishes security and stability.