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Induction of the African Union as a permanent member of G20 will help the integration of the 55 countries in the region, according to analysts.
Induction of the African Union as a permanent member of G20 will help the integration of the 55 countries in the region, according to analysts.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who holds the presidency of the G20 and is hosting the heads of state and governments this weekend, has shown in recent days his desire to expand this group with the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member. It means that all members were in favor of the induction of the African Union. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the region in geopolitical and global economic architecture. Africa with its huge land mass, demographic dividend, and the largest reservoir of minerals and rare earth has become an integral part of the global development agenda.
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While the debate is on as to what would be the takeaways for the African region by the induction into G20, there is an overwhelming opinion that it could harness the potential benefit only when the steps are taken to promote the process of economic integration and political union. As a part of the AfCFTA, which was implemented after considerable delay, it envisages a reduction of intra-country tariffs to promote the free flow of men and materials within the union is almost a non-starter. There is considerable resistance from members to adhere to the stipulated reduction in the tariff to allow the inflow of investments from member countries. The European Union, which has a seat in the G20, showed its support for the initiative.
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At the start of the proceedings of the G20 meeting, Prime Minister Modi invited the president of the Comoros archipelago, Azali Assoumani, who is currently head of the African Union, to take part in the weekend talks. In December, US President Joe Biden had already expressed the wish that the AU join the G20 as a permanent member, assuring that it was going to happen.
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Only one African country, South Africa, is currently a member of the G20, which brings together 19 of the world’s largest economies plus the European Union, representing 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. Based in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, the AU has 55 members (including six suspended), representing three trillion dollars in GDP. Granting the African Union a permanent seat in the G20 would make it possible to repair an injustice, Senegalese President Macky Sall argued in July.
