Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to the leaders of G20 nations, proposing that the African Union (AU) be granted full and permanent membership in the diplomatic group.
The move demonstrates India’s strong commitment to enhancing Africa’s representation and partnership in shaping global affairs, according to an official source.
The AU, consisting of 55 African countries, had made a request for full membership in G20. Modi’s proposal aims to amplify Africa’s voice on the international stage and enable it to play a significant role in shaping the future of our shared world.
Long overdue
India is scheduled to host the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September, providing an opportune moment to discuss this proposal.
At present, G20 has limited African representation with only one member nation, South Africa. In contrast, Europe is represented by five countries, excluding the European Union. While the AU chairperson has been invited to the G20 summits since 2010, there has been a growing demand for a permanent seat for the African Union at the G20.
Senegalese President Macky Sall, the current chairperson of the AU, initiated this discussion in July last year. He highlighted the risk that insufficient African representation poses to the G20’s credibility and effectiveness. With pressing global issues such as climate change, pandemics, security, and debt, Africa is not just affected but also has valuable solutions to offer. PM Sall argued that the absence of the AU weakens the G20’s credibility and inclusiveness.
Chorus for inclusion
Several influential figures have also echoed the call for AU representation. During last year’s Bali summit, Indonesia, the then G20 chair, had publicly advocated for the AU. French President Emmanuel Macron has also openly supported the African Union’s full integration into G20. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made AU membership a priority topic during the Bali summit.
At the US-Africa summit held in December 2022, US President Joe Biden championed the cause of AU’s G20 membership. Japan pledged its support a week later.
India’s gesture
India’s initiative to rally for the AU’s full membership is a substantial step towards amplifying Africa’s voice on the global stage. This aligns with India’s agenda as the G20 chair, a platform the country has utilised to advocate for the Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading this cause with conviction and determination. As part of India’s G20 presidency, PM Modi has prioritised incorporating the concerns and priorities of African countries into the group’s agenda.
Earlier this year, India hosted the Voice of Global South Summit to gather the perspectives and concerns of developing nations. This input will help shape the G20 agenda for this year.
