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African envoys to boycott Africa Day over lynching of Congolese national

by IBNS 25 May 2016, 09:21 am

New Delhi, May 25 (IBNS) After the lynching of a Congolese national in Delhi led to a diplomatic downturn, African envoys in India have decided to boycott Wednesday's Africa Day celebrations in the national capital, reports said.

Though the immediate reason for the  decision, taken by the  African Group of Heads of Mission was the last week's murder of Masunda Kitada Oliver, a Congolese student, the brewing grievances over frequent attacks on Africans made the envoys to recommend their states to make such a move.  

A   statement issued by Alem Tsehage Woldemariam, Ambassador of Eritrea and Dean of the group said :“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."

Following a meeting of the group in the High Commission of Ghana on Tuesday, senior African diplomats met officials at the External Affairs Ministry, and called upon India “to take concrete steps to guarantee the safety and security of Africans”.