By John Ikani
The African Union’s entry into the G20 on Saturday has been met with widespread approval from African leaders, who see it as a significant step toward giving the continent a stronger voice on the global stage.
Until recently, South Africa was the sole African nation represented in the G20.
“Kenya welcomes the addition of the African Union, the fastest-growing continent in the world, to the G20,” expressed Kenyan President William Ruto on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“This will enhance Africa’s global visibility, influence and provide a platform to advance our people’s common interests.”
“As Africa prepares for substantial growth in the coming years, securing a seat will enable it to influence G20 decisions in a manner that safeguards the continent’s interests,” Ruto elaborated in a separate statement.
Ruto also highlighted the outcomes of the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit, including fundamental reforms of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks, as key areas the AU will champion.
AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat emphasized that this move would enable Africa to make “its effective contribution” in addressing global challenges.
“This membership, for which we have long advocated, will provide a propitious framework for amplifying advocacy in favor of the Continent and its effective contribution to meeting global challenges,” he stated on X.
Comoros President and current AU chairman Azali Assoumani expressed great pride in Africa’s entry into the G20, describing it as “a great day for me and the entire African continent.”
The African Union, comprising 55 members (with six junta-ruled nations currently suspended), collectively boasts a GDP of $3 trillion and a population of about 1.4 billion people.
As the G20 previously consisted of 19 countries and the European Union, representing 85 percent of the world’s GDP, South Africa was the sole African representative.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his delight at the development on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ramaphosa stressed the importance of collective action and solidarity in addressing climate change issues and the need for access to sufficient and predictable financial resources from both public and private sectors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
“As a continent, we eagerly anticipate further advancing our global aspirations through the G20 platform,” Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attending the summit, shared on X.
Senegal’s President Macky Sall, who had long advocated for the African Union’s inclusion in the G20, expressed his gratitude to the G20 members for supporting this initiative. Sall championed this cause during his AU presidency in 2022 until the beginning of 2023.
Senegal’s foreign ministry stated that this advocacy reflects Sall’s vision for fairer and more inclusive global political, economic, and financial governance.
