Paper short abstract:

India and Africa have long-term connections (British colonization), with settlements of people of Indian origins in urban and rural areas. Recently, India is developing an African strategy. The paper focus on the role of Indian actors in nowadays rural-urban linkages in Africa.

Paper long abstract:

India and some African countries (mainly in Eastern and South Africa) have long-term connections due to the British colonization. An Indian "diaspora" (around 2 million people) developed in Africa as descendant of "indentured people" (farm workers under contract) or of "free passengers" (traders). Businessmen of Indian origin are mainly located in towns (main urban centers) but an important part of the population is leaving in rural areas and small and medium towns. They have been playing an important role in the rural-urban linkages as traders (supplying rural areas).

Recently, new Indian actors are investing in Africa. A public policy of development has been implementing for a decade, with the multiplication of commercial agreements (mineral resources) and the implementation of investments in fields like education or health. Private investors and entrepreneurs are also very active in direct investments, in the development of joint ventures on in land grabbing. India groups like Tata or Bharti Airtel are main actors of transport and communication development in Africa, spreading from traditional partners countries to other ones (French speaking Africa).

New issues are at stake such as the relationships between the "diaspora" and new actors and the economic and social impacts of these changes on Africa territories.

The paper aims to discuss the role of Indian actors, "old" and "new" ones, in the development of Africa rural-urban linkages, at different scales.