G20 Grants African Union Permanent Membership

• 11 Sep 2023

On 9^th September, 2023, the G20 officially granted the African Union permanent membership status, equating it with the European Union, according to Indian Prime Minister’s announcement at the G20 summit in New Delhi.

Key Points

• African Union Elevated to Permanent G20 Member: Indian Prime Minister welcomed the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20 during the summit, elevating the continental organization from its previous status as an "invited international organization."
• AU's New Status Parallel to European Union: With this development, the African Union now holds the same status within the G20 as the European Union, making it the only regional bloc with full membership in the group of the world's wealthiest and most influential nations.
• Proposed in June: Indian Prime Minister initially proposed this significant move in June, leading to the formal admission of the African Union as a permanent G20 member.
• Agenda at the Summit: Besides the AU's admission, the G20 summit also addresses various global issues, including increased loans to developing nations by multilateral institutions, reforms in international debt structures, cryptocurrency regulations, and the impact of geopolitics on food and energy security.
• G20's Significance: Previously composed of 19 countries and the European Union, the G20 represents over 85% of global GDP, more than 75% of global trade, and approximately two-thirds of the world's population.