In theory, the majority of major international powers have agreed to support Africa’s application to join the G20, an organisation made up of 19 nations and the European Union (EU).
The EU came out in support most recently on Friday.
“In line with commitments on multilateralism made at the EU-AU Summit… the European Council supports the African Union’s [AU] reinforced presence in international forums, particularly in the G20,” reads a statement released during one of the EU Council body of advisors sessions, which are taking place till July 16th.
The appeal was made a few weeks after African heads of state visited Russia and Ukraine to urge an end to the conflict.
The US also supported the move to include the AU in the G20 during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in December last year.
“Africa belongs to the table in every room – in every room – where global challenges are being discussed and in every institution where discussions are taking place,” US President Joe Biden said.
“It’s been a long time in coming, but it’s going to come.”
India is serving as the G20’s chair this year.
India’s prime leader, Narendra Modi, also demanded this week that Africa be involved in decisions that have an impact on the Global South.
Modi will fight for Africa’s admission and host the G20 Summit in September. Only South Africa represents Africa at the G20.
The first time the AU as a whole was invited to the G20 Summit was in 2010 in Seoul, South Korea.
After that, when Germany led the G20 to encourage private investment in Africa, the Compact with Africa was established.
The G20 engages African leaders by inviting the AU chairman and members of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
Emerging geopolitical situations like the conflict in Ukraine, which has an effect on the food security of the continent, strengthen the push for Africa to join as a full member.
The continent’s growing significance in economic governance is a further justification for the AU’s admission as a full member.
With 1.3 billion inhabitants, Africa’s GDP was projected to be R58 trillion (US$3.1 trillion) in 2023.
The World Bank forecasts GDP growth for the continent of 3.6% in 2023 and 3.9% in 2024, with 91% of African economies expected to develop faster than the global forecast of 1.7% in 2023. In addition, the region is projected to have robust economic growth.
The AU may rank as the eighth-largest economic bloc in the world after the complete implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which unites the 55 economies of Africa into a single market.
According to the Institute for Security Studies , “becoming a G20 member would be a political, cultural, and technical challenge for an organization that has been relatively inward-looking”.
“The AU would need to put in place working methods that allow or force its members to acknowledge the positions they agree on at summits.”
