G20 Could be Renamed G21 as African Union Becomes Permanent Member on India's Invitation

The African Union became a permanent member of the Group of 20 (G20) on Saturday. .

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the head of the African Union, who is also the President of the Union of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, to take his seat as the permanent member of one of the main forums of global economic cooperation.

“India put a proposal to give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union. I believe that we have everyone’s agreement on this,” PM Modi said, kicking off the summit and extending the invitation of permanent membership of G20 to the African Union. According to news agency PTI, the group could be renamed to G21.

“With everyone’s approval, I request the African Union head to take his seat as a permanent G20 member,” he added, banging a ceremonial gavel.

Assoumani then took his seat among world leaders at the invitation of India’s foreign affairs minister S. Jaishankar.

India during its entire period of G20 Presidency said that the forum should represent the interests of the Global South. The Union external affairs ministry said that it is one of the key outcomes of the G20 Summit.

“For a G20, which is more inclusive and more vocal for the Global South! PM Narendra Modi warmly invites the President of the African Union and Comoros Azali Assoumani to join other G20 leaders as the African Union becomes a permanent member of the G20. A key outcome of G20 India,” the external affairs ministry said.

The African Union is headquartered in Ethiopia and was created in 2022 after the Organisation of African Unity was disbanded. The presidency of the African Union is a rotational one. The African Union at its full strength has 55 members, but currently six junta-ruled nations are currently suspended. It collectively has a GDP of $3 trillion and represents some 1.4 billion people.

PM Modi has been pitching for the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 and wrote to leaders in June extending India’s proposal to include the African Union to better represent the aspirations of an entire continent.

The formal proposal was included in the draft communique for the summit during the third G20 Sherpas meeting in July in Karnataka’s Hampi. This is also a diplomatic win for India as it will drive international economic cooperation and African Union’s joining will also help member-nations navigate the challenges posed by the China-backed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which has thrown several African economies into the ‘Chinese debt trap’.