Overview
- India and the African Union announced on Thursday, May 21, 2026, that the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit scheduled for May 28–31 in New Delhi would be postponed.
- The decision followed the World Health Organization’s declaration that Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- WHO and media reports said the outbreak had produced roughly 600 suspected cases and about 139 suspected deaths at the time of reporting, and some tests point to a less common Ebola variant in the DRC.
- India’s health authorities issued an advisory identifying DRC, Uganda and South Sudan as high‑risk, ordered tougher entry screening at ports and airports, and asked states to prepare screening, quarantine and case‑management SOPs.
- The postponement removes a major diplomatic forum that would have gathered leaders from about 40 African countries, leaves summit dates to be set by mutual consultation, and could delay planned trade, health and development initiatives while India offers material and technical support through Africa CDC.