African envoys severely criticised India for its lack of measures to deter or properly condemn the recent "xenophobic and racial attacks" in the country. The Heads of African Mission Accredited to India conveyed their disapproval in a press statement last week after they held a special meeting to discuss the savage attack on four students from Nigeria in Noida. They said that they plan to call for an independent investigation into the attacks by the Human Rights Council and other Rights bodies.
No words were minced by the African envoys as they termed the attacks racial. "The meeting unanimously agreed that these accumulated attacks against Africans are xenophobic and racial in nature," they said in a statement. They said they "express their deep concern and also take note that these reprehensible events, both outstanding and unresolved cases against Africans, were not sufficiently condemned by the Indian authorities." They also criticised India for its inaction saying, "They reviewed the previous incidents that have taken place in the past and concluded that no known, sufficient, and visible deterring measures were taken by the Government of India."
The anger follows India's refusal to categorise the attacks on African students as racial. Authorities said that pending an investigation, it is not correct to draw a conclusion on "the nature and the reason" of these acts. Last week, four Nigerian students were attacked during a candle-light march for a 17 year old boy who died of a suspected drug overdose. Residents in Greater Noida allege that the Nigerians in the neighbourhood sell drugs to young people. Similar violence has for the past two years, been inflicted on people from Africa - most of them in Delhi and Bengaluru. Congolese national Masuna Kitada Oliver was killed in a brutal attack in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj area, last year, triggering outrage amongst envoys of African countries. Before that, four Africans were allegedly attacked by a mob at Byrathi in Bengaluru in March 2015, after locals were reportedly "annoyed" with them for creating "nuisance" in the area.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has expressed hope that the culprits behind the attacks in India would be brought to justice. "We do very much hope that people who are responsible for the attacks are brought to justice," said spokesman for the UN secretary-general Stephane Dujarric.
