African envoys say not enough done to stop racist attacks

India didn’t do enough to stop a string of attacks on Africans in Greater Noida last month, a statement by a group of African envoys has said, the first official reaction to the assaults that triggered nationwide condemnation.

In a late night reaction on Monday, the external affairs ministry said it was “unfortunate” that a criminal act had been described as racial. The ministry added that the government is committed to the security of all foreign nationals, including Africans.

A statement by the Heads of African Mission dated March 31 sought a strong condemnation of the attacks at the highest level in India, legal action against perpetrators and an independent investigation by human rights bodies. The document said the “accumulated attacks against Africans” were “xenophobic and racial in nature”.

“The Heads of African Mission… reviewed the previous instances taken place and concluded that no known, sufficient and visible deterring measures were taken by the government of India,” the statement said.

Referring to the attacks, the envoys said “these reprehensible events, both outstanding and unresolved cases against Africans, weren’t sufficiently condemned by Indian authorities”.

The MEA said it was “unfortunate that a criminal act triggered following the untimely death of a young Indian student under suspicious circumstances has been termed as xenophobic and racial”.

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