G20 admits African Union as permanent member at summit in India

The African Union (AU) has become a permanent member of the G20, a group that comprises the richest and most powerful countries in the world, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the bloc’s summit in New Delhi this Saturday (9).

The African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, now has the same status as the European Union – the only regional bloc with full members. Its previous designation was “invited international organization”.

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Modi, in his opening speech at the summit, invited the AU, represented by President Azali Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member.

“It is an honor 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,” said a message on Modi’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The change was proposed by the Indian Prime Minister in June. Reuters previously cited the draft declaration admitting the African Union as a permanent member.

Other issues to be decided at the summit include more lending to developing nations by multilateral institutions, reform of the international debt architecture, regulations on cryptocurrencies and the impact of geopolitics on food and energy security.

The 38-page draft that was circulated among members left the “geopolitical situation” paragraph blank — reflecting the deep division over the war in Ukraine — but another 75 paragraphs indicated broad agreement on issues such as cryptocurrencies and reforms at multilateral development banks.

The G20 was previously made up of 19 countries and the European Union, with members representing around 85% of global GDP, more than 75% of global trade and around two-thirds of the world’s population.