G20 admits African Union as everlasting member at New Delhi summit

AFP / Ludovic Marin

The African Union was made a everlasting member of the G20, comprising the world’s richest and strongest nations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on the bloc’s summit in New Delhi on Saturday.

The African Union, a continental physique of 55 member states, now has the identical standing because the European Union – the one regional bloc with a full membership. Its earlier designation was “invited international organisation”.

Modi, in his opening remarks on the summit, invited the AU, represented by Chairperson Azali Assoumani, to sit on the desk of G20 leaders as a everlasting member.

“Honoured to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 Family. This will strengthen the G20 and also strengthen the voice of the Global South,” stated a message on Modi’s official account on social media platform X, previously generally known as Twitter.

Advancing a extra inclusive G20 that echoes the aspirations of the Global South!

PM @narendramodi extends a heartfelt welcome to President @_AfricanUnion and the President of Comoros Azali Assoumani.

Thrilled to have the African Union as a everlasting member. A milestone for the… pic.twitter.com/SqwziRCwiT

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 9, 2023

The transfer was proposed by Modi in June.

Reuters earlier cited the draft declaration admitting the African Union as a everlasting member.

Other points being selected on the summit embrace extra loans to creating nations by multilateral establishments, reform of worldwide debt structure, rules on cryptocurrency and the influence of geopolitics on meals and vitality safety.

The 38-page draft which was circulated amongst members left the “geopolitical situation” paragraph clean — reflecting deep division over the warfare in Ukraine — however 75 different paragraphs indicated broad settlement on points equivalent to cryptocurrencies and reforms in multilateral growth banks.

The G20 beforehand comprised 19 nations and the European Union, with the members representing round 85% of world GDP, greater than 75% of world commerce and about two-thirds of the world inhabitants.