For UNSC seat, India pitching a tent at Africa summit

India8217;s permanent representative to the United Nations, Nirupam Sen will also join forces with Singh.

As India and its partners look for the magical figure of 128 votes in support of Security Council expansion, the 53 votes of the African Union add up to a solid block.

The Indian mission would like to persuade the African Union to endorse the framework resolution on UN Security Council expansion that India, Japan, Germany, and Brazil plan to introduce in the UN General Assembly next month. It would also want to consolidate support for its own candidature.

On both fronts, India has its work cut out at Sirte.

At the request of the African nations, the Group of Four aspirants for permanent seats had agreed to delay the introduction of the resolution until after the African Union summit.

The G-4 countries have invited two African states, to be chosen by the African Union, on to their joint slate for new permanent members.

But the African Union is badly divided on which two candidates among many to select. Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are the front-runners, and Senegal, Kenya and Libya are also in the fray.

With China and the United States opposing the G-4 framework for expansion, gaining the African support has become all-important. But it is by no means clear if the African Union will come to any decision at the Sirte summit.

Senior Indian official here expressed the hope that the AU8217;s decisions 8216;8216;will not lead to a further delay8217;8217; in the introduction of the framework resolution that is the first step in the long road to successful Security Council expansion.

One potential negative outcome could be an AU decision to appoint a ministerial committee to negotiate with G-4 on its draft. These potential talks on procedure could be long and counterproductive, analysts here said.

Ideally India would like the AU to choose two candidates to represent Africa as permanent members of the UNSC. India has been underlining the 8216;8216;historic opportunity8217;8217; that awaits Africa in the United Nations and urging the leaders of the continent not to throw it away.

Short of that, India could live with a decision to let the members of AU to vote according to their free will in the General Assembly.

While there is broad empathy in Africa for the Indian candidature, Delhi has many amends to make.

Many of its recent pledges on economic cooperation with various African nations as well as its support for the broader African development initiatives remain to be redeemed. Rao Inderjit Singh, hopefully, is well equipped to revive India8217;s credibility in Africa as a partner.