NEW DELHI, Oct 31 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held bilateral talks with 41 top African leaders, who attended the India-Africa Summit (IAFS), with most of them asking for assistance in security and capacity building even as he sought Sudanese President Omer Hassan Ahmed Elbashir�s help in securing the release of three nationals from Libya.
According to official sources, Modi held meetings, which were spread over three days, with the leaders on the sidelines of the IAFS during which they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in key areas.
�In his meeting with Elbashir yesterday, the Prime Minister sought help in securing the release of three Indians, held hostage in Libya by the ISIS. The visiting leaders assured him that the message of India being a friendly country and no harm should be caused to Indians will be conveyed to the government in Libya,� a source said.
The Prime Minister also raised the issue of dues Sudan owes to the ONGC and Exim banks with Elbashir describing the ONGC as an �important partner.� They also discussed the possibility of a joint ministerial meeting early next year.
Apart from Sudan, Modi held meetings with leaders from Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Burundi, Gambia and Liberia yesterday.
Most of the countries sought India�s assistance in countering terrorism and capacity building, while some smaller nations asked for concessional credit line to meet their agricultural and health challenges, the sources said. � PTI
NEW DELHI, Oct 31 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held bilateral talks with 41 top African leaders, who attended the India-Africa Summit (IAFS), with most of them asking for assistance in security and capacity building even as he sought Sudanese President Omer Hassan Ahmed Elbashir�s help in securing the release of three nationals from Libya.
According to official sources, Modi held meetings, which were spread over three days, with the leaders on the sidelines of the IAFS during which they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in key areas.
�In his meeting with Elbashir yesterday, the Prime Minister sought help in securing the release of three Indians, held hostage in Libya by the ISIS. The visiting leaders assured him that the message of India being a friendly country and no harm should be caused to Indians will be conveyed to the government in Libya,� a source said.
The Prime Minister also raised the issue of dues Sudan owes to the ONGC and Exim banks with Elbashir describing the ONGC as an �important partner.� They also discussed the possibility of a joint ministerial meeting early next year.
Apart from Sudan, Modi held meetings with leaders from Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Burundi, Gambia and Liberia yesterday.
Most of the countries sought India�s assistance in countering terrorism and capacity building, while some smaller nations asked for concessional credit line to meet their agricultural and health challenges, the sources said. � PTI
