New Delhi, 9 September 2023 (TDI): The African Union (AU) has been granted permanent membership in the G20 through a collective decision made by the G20 member nations today.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi extended an invitation to the Chairperson of AU, Azali Assoumani, offering a permanent seat at the G20 leaders’ table.
Foreign Minister of India, S. Jaishankar escorted the Chairperson to his designated seat. “With support from all of you, I invite the African Union to join the G20,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“In keeping with the sentiment of sabka saath (with everyone), India has proposed that the African Union should be given permanent membership of the G20.
I believe we are all in agreement on this proposal,” Prime Minister Modi announced this, and then, he emphatically struck the gavel three times.
In a social media post, Prime Minister Modi mentioned, “Honoured to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 Family.
This will strengthen the G20 and also strengthen the voice of the Global South.” The suggestion to include the AU in the G20 was made by Prime Minister Modi in June.
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Before the AU’s inclusion, the G20 consisted of 19 countries comprising Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
The AU, made up of 55 member states, is a continental organization, similar to the European Union (EU). It has now achieved an equivalent status to that of the EU within the G20.
