By John Ikani
US President, Joe Biden is set to back the idea that the African Union (AU) becomes a permanent member of the G20 group of leading economies.
Biden will make the announcement during a three-day US-Africa Summit that opens on Tuesday in Washington, DC, where the United States will commit to the continent after inroads by China and Russia.
“It’s past time Africa has permanent seats at the table in international organizations and initiatives,” Judd Devermont, White House National Security Council’s senior director for African Affairs, said in a statement quoted by the news site.
The G20 brings together the world’s major and systemically important economies. Its members account for around 85 per cent of global GDP, 75 per cent of global trade and 65 percent of the world’s population.
South Africa is the only G20 member from Africa. The AU is made up of 55 member states.
“We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security.” he added.
Devermont said the move, first reported by the Washington Post, comes after requests from African Union Chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
About 50 African leaders are expected to join Biden for the December 13-15 series of meetings, in which the US is expected to discuss the African Union’s role with India – the G20 president for 2023.
It is worthwhile to note that Biden’s pledge comes after he threw his support behind the expansion of the United Nations Security Council, including representation of Africa, during a speech to the world body in September.
The United States released a new strategy document for sub-Saharan Africa in August, stressing the region’s importance, the threats posed by China and Russia, and vowing to extend defense cooperation with like-minded African countries.
In November, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington would have to do things differently to help Africa with its infrastructure needs and it was time to stop treating the continent as a subject of geopolitics and rather as a major player on its own.
The Biden administration has been criticized by some as inattentive to Africa: a common complaint about US foreign policy but one that has rung louder since China deepened its political and economic roots on the continent.
But Biden has struck a different tone from former President Donald Trump, who disparaged some African nations and barred travel from six of them.
