The African Union (AU) Saturday formally took its seat as a new member of the G20 at the invitation of summit host Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his inaugural address at the summit, Modi also expressed solidarity with Morocco as it grapples with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and extended all the support that Rabat needs. In 2015, India had played a key role in Morocco’s reinduction into the AU.
The current chair of the 55-member AU is the Comoros President, who was greeted by Modi following the announcement. Other African countries present at the summit are Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, and Mauritius.
Resentment against the Chinese model of economic partnership, which has pushed certain African states into debt, has been building.
African countries are now seeking alternative partners including India. The G20 summit declaration contains initiatives aimed at African empowerment.
‘Africa is a top priority for us even within the G20. One of the first things we did during our G20 presidency was to hold the ‘Voice of the Global South’ summit, which had enthusiastic participation from Africa,’ Modi had said earlier.
India had been pitching for the AU to be made a full member of G20 as it seeks to expand its footprint across the continent based on the goodwill toward the country amid China’s major inroads into the continent. India’s move has received strong backing from the US and Russia besides the EU. Russia has made major inroads in the continent in recent years even as the US is making attempts to win over some African states.
While the US national security adviser on Tuesday again backed AU’s membership of the G20, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated, ‘Russia proactively supported the initiative to grant the African Union membership in the Group of 20. It is the right decision reflecting the reality and the balance of power in today’s world.’
India has a long history of supporting African causes since the days of colonial rule. In 2015, the Narendra Modi government hosted a mega third edition of the India-Africa summit. In recent years, India’s partnership with Africa has acquired strategic dimensions with defence partnerships being revived with Egypt and other East African countries, according to Africa observers.
Supporting the AU’s inclusion in the G20, Modi had earlier said, ‘No plan for the future of the planet can be successful without the representation and recognition of all voices… There is a need to come out of a purely utilitarian worldview and embrace a Sarva Jana Hitaaya, Sarva Jana Sukhaaya (for the welfare of all, for the happiness of all) model.’
N Chandrasekaran, B20 chair and Tata Sons chairman, welcomed the move. ‘With Africa’s voice as part of the global economic forum, partnership with the continent will be greatly intensified,’ he said in a release. ‘Human capital development, agricultural and industrial transformation, trade facilitation to make Africa a common market are inclusive aspects of the Declaration.’
The African Union’s inclusion will be ‘remembered as a defining milestone towards charting more inclusive compositions across international organisations and their bodies,’ said Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman, Bharti Enterprises, and chair, B20 India Action Council on African Economic Integration.
‘We are delighted with the inclusion of the African Union into the regular membership of G20. Indeed, it will reinforce multilateralism and our vision of a strong Global South. Africa is projected to be the fastest-growing continent in 2023 beating Asia as well. This is aided by the economically binding force of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement,’ said Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary-General of CUTS International.
CUTS International works in the whole of Africa through its three centers in Lusaka, Nairobi and Accra and a representative office in Abuja. Mehta has also provided expert advice to the AU Commission and UN Economic Commission of Africa on AfCFTA matters. He has also been an adviser to the Governments of Zambia and Ghana.
