The African Union (AU) became a permanent member of the G20 on 9th September 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the Head of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, to take his seat as a permanent member of the G20.
- With this, The G20 has become G21.
- The idea was floated in June 2023, when Prime Minister wrote to G20 leaders to propose that the African Union be given full membership at the upcoming Delhi Summit of G20, as requested by them.
- The idea germinated after the ‘Voice of the Global South’ Summit in January 2023, in which most of the African Union’s 55 countries had participated. The discussions were carried forward in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, which houses the headquarters of the African Union.
- So far, only one country from the grouping — South Africa – was part of the G20.
- The move is a reflection of the intensity of India’s engagement with Africa, which got a fillip when over 40 heads of state and government came for the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit in October 2015.
- Under the Africa Outreach initiative, India has sent ministerial-level delegations to all the African countries. Modi himself has visited at least 10 countries in Africa in the last nine years.
- This is also in sync with India’s aspiration for permanent membership of the UNSC. India is keen to garner the support of the African Union which has 55 votes.
About African Union (AU)
- The Addis Ababa-headquartered African Union (AU) comprises the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
- AU was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity, Africa’s first post-independence continental institution set up in 1963 with 32 members.
- Collectively, African Union member states have a GDP of nearly USD 3 trillion and a population of around 1.4 billion.
