Don’t send students to India, say African diplomats

It’s Africa Day today and diplomats from the continent are using the occasion to make a point about how African students are subjected to racism and violence in India. The African Group of Heads of Mission declared that in response to the killing of a Congolese student in Delhi last week, the diplomats would boycott Africa Day celebrations. “This is because the African Community in India are in a state of mourning,” said the group’s statement.

Masunda Kitada Oliver was 23 and worked in Delhi as a teacher in a private institute. Last week, he was beaten to death in the gentrified neighbourhood of Vasant Kunj. The callousness with which his killing was treated was appalling, with his body being found on the road and the police reportedly identifying him as “MT Oliva”. Police officers told Indian Express, “The incident came to light at around 11.55 pm and the eyewitnesses told the police that the victim was chased for 20 metres and then beaten up by the assailants.” Oliver was brought to a hospital by a second group of locals and was pronounced dead on arrival.

In an official press release, The African Group of Heads of Mission stated, “Given the pervading climate of fear and insecurity in Delhi, the African Heads of Mission are left with little option than to consider recommending to their governments not to send new students to India, unless and until their safety can be guaranteed.” While numbers vary, African students form a significant minority, especially among foreign students. A recent report calculated there are more than 2,000 African students in Jalandhar and Phagwara alone.

The statement asks the Indian government to “take concrete steps to guarantee the safety and security of Africans” and suggests starting “appropriate programmes of public awareness that will address the problems of racism and Afro-phobia in India.”

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter that the government is committed to the safety and security of Africans in India.

It’s optimistic to think this will change how Africans are treated in India, but let’s hope at least Oliver’s case is processed properly.