The Group of Twenty (G20), the annual meeting of the 19 largest world economies and the European Union, was held on September 9 and 10, 2023 in New Delhi. One of the major topics discussed during this summit was the accession of the African Union (AU) to the G20, supported in particular by the European Union (EU).
Until now only invited, the AU aspires to become a full member of the G20. This candidacy received the support of the majority of G20 members, including India, the United States, France and the EU. However, some countries such as Indonesia and Australia are still hesitant about joining, fearing the arrival of new applications from other regional organizations. Discussions between the members of the G20 should make it possible to overcome these reluctances.
The AU’s membership in the G20 would represent a major turning point for the African regional organization. Currently, only South Africa represents the continent within the G20. This integration would give a strong voice to all African countries and enable Africa to actively participate in global economic decisions.
This G20 summit is of particular importance for Africa, because many issues affecting the continent are addressed there. Among these, we find the war in Ukraine and its consequences on the grain trade, the fight against climate change and the reform of multilateral banks, in the face of the growing debt of African states.
In addition to the AU membership, other African countries were invited to participate in the summit as guests, such as Nigeria, Egypt and Mauritius. Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy in the previous year, plays a crucial role in economic discussions.
In conclusion, the membership of the African Union in the G20 would represent a significant step in the recognition of Africa as a global economic actor. This summit provided an opportunity to discuss major issues for the continent and to strengthen ties between Africa and the world’s largest economies.