Prime Minister Modi Welcomes African Union As Permanent G20 Member, Signifying A Historic Milestone

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20 signifies a significant milestone for the G20 community. During the inaugural session of the two-day G20 summit in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi warmly welcomed the African Union’s 55 member nations into the bloc.

In a tweet from the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Modi expressed enthusiasm for “advancing a more inclusive G20 that echoes the aspirations of the Global South.” The tweet extended a heartfelt welcome to President of the African Union and the President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, and celebrated the African Union’s permanent membership as a true milestone for the G20 family.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the African Union Commission, also hailed the African Union’s entry into the G20. He emphasized that this long-advocated membership would create a conducive framework for advocating on behalf of the African continent and its active role in addressing global challenges.

This development aligns with India’s commitment to representing the concerns of the Global South. Prime Minister Modi stated last December that India’s G20 priorities would be crafted in consultation not only with G20 partners but also with fellow nations from the Global South, whose voices are often underrepresented.

The term “Global South” refers to developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Throughout its G20 presidency, India has consistently raised the issues faced by countries in this grouping.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar underscored India’s dedication to voicing the concerns of the Global South, highlighting India’s initiative to provide vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic as evidence that India “walks the talk” in advocating for these nations.