US wants African Union in G20
United States President Biden next week will announce US support for the African Union to become a permanent member of the Group of 20 nations – a move that would give African nations a long-sought prize, and which could make it easier for Biden to secure their cooperation on issues like Ukraine and climate change.
The AU represents the 55 states on the continent. The G20 is a highly influential forum for the world’s most powerful economies from Europe, Asia and the Americas, and South Africa is the only member from Africa.
Biden would announce the decision during next week’s USAfrica
Leaders Summit in Washington, said Judd Devermont, the White House National Security Council’s senior director for African affairs.
‘‘It’s past time Africa has permanent seats at the table in international organisations and initiatives,’’ Devermont said. ‘‘We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security.’’
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegal’s President Macky Sall, the chair of the African Union, had pushed Biden to increase Africa’s representation on the G20, Devermont said. Ramaphosa directly asked Biden for his support for the AU joining the G20 when he visited the US president in Washington in September.
Biden’s push comes as African countries and other countries in the global south have borne the brunt of the economic impact from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Those countries have been hit especially hard by a global food crisis as well as rising fertiliser and fuel prices, making it difficult for the US to secure their support during United Nations votes that have condemned Russia for the invasion and its annexation of Ukrainian territories.
More broadly, African countries have long expressed frustration that they often bear the worst repercussions of global events but are not adequately represented in decisions that can disproportionately impact them.
Many African countries, for instance, were hit particularly hard by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. They also are among the countries worst affected by rising temperatures, droughts and other extreme weather events fuelled by climate change.
African leaders have argued that they need to have a more central role in key international bodies to shape the direction of decisions that arise out of global events.
Next week’s summit is also unfolding as the US mounts a concerted push to form and strengthen alliances that will allow it to counter the influence of China.
‘‘We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security.’’
Judd Devermont,
White House National Security Council senior director for African affairs