Prime Minister Narendra Modi will next week visit Rwanda and Uganda before heading to South Africa to attend the BRICS Summit during which key global issues, including international peace and security, are expected to be discussed.

The prime minister will visit the three countries from June 23-27. During his three-nation trip, PM Modi will first stop in Rwanda for a two-day “historic” visit, the first by an Indian premier, T S Tirumurti, secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told reporters at a briefing in New Delhi.

He will then head to Uganda on July 24 and from there to South Africa on July 25.

This will be Modi’s second official visit to Africa after his visits to Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya in 2016.

Tirumurti said that with the upcoming tour, India will complete ministerial visits to all African countries under New Delhi’s Africa outreach initiative.

Modi will first stop in Rwanda in what will be the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to the East African nation. Describing Rwanda as an important gateway to eastern Africa, Tirumurti said that India and Rwanda elevated their bilateral ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership in January last year.

PM Modi’s visit comes after Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s visit to India in January 2017 for the Vibrant Gujarat event and then again in March 2018 for the founding conference of the India-initiated International Solar Alliance.

Tirumurti said that India will open its first mission in Rwanda very soon. India’s current High Commissioner to Rwanda has residence in Kampala, Uganda.

“Rwanda has also been a recipient of our lines of credit of nearly $400 million and of our training and scholarship programmes,” he said.

Modi would proceed to Uganda on July 24 for a two-day visit, the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1997.

His programme in Uganda would include, a call on President Yoweri Museveni, restricted and delegation level talks, and participation at a India-Uganda joint business event.

Modi will also address the Ugandan Parliament, the first time an Indian prime minister will do so, the senior MEA official said.

He will also address an Indian community event where president Musevini is also expected to attend.

“We expect to extend two lines of credit for the first time to Uganda — USD 141 million for electricity lines and substations and USD 64 million for agriculture and dairy production,” Tirumurti said.

From Uganda, Modi will head to South Africa on July 25 to participate in the BRICS Summit, whose theme this year is ‘BRICS in Africa’.

PM Modi will attend the 10th addition of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg during which the grouping’s leaders are expected to deliberate on global hot-spot issues, international peace and security, global governance and trade issues among others, Tirumurti said.

On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister is also expected to meet some leaders bilaterally, he said.

Asked if there would be a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tirumurti said, “At this point, we don’t have a fix on the bilaterals and with which country.”

At the summit, the prime minister will participate, with other BRICS leaders, in the restricted session, plenary session, leaders retreat, outreach with leaders from Africa, and outreach with leaders from global south.

Issues expected to be deliberated at the summit include BRICS in Africa, fourth industrial revolution, multilateralism, global governance, sustainable development and infrastructure, Tirumurti said.

“BRICS leaders are expected to discuss global hot-spot issues, international peace and security, global governance, trade issues etc., during the restricted session,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)