Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit that the African Union has been granted permanent membership in the Group of 20 nations. In his opening statement, PM Modi invited the African Union, represented by Chairperson Azali Assoumani, to join the G20 leaders as a permanent member.
“With everyone’s approval, I request the AU head to take his seat as a permanent G20 member,” Modi said in his address.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar greeted President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) as he assumed his place among global leaders. One of India’s primary objectives for the ongoing G20 summit was to incorporate the African Union as a member. This initiative to include the African Union in the G20 was initially put forth by Prime Minister Modi in June of this year.
“Before we start the proceedings of G20, I want to express my condolences over the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. We pray that all injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time, PM Modi said in his inaugural address.
AU Chairperson Assoumani arrived in the national capital on Friday and received a welcome at the New Delhi airport from Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Raosaheb Danve.
Back in June 2023, Prime Minister Modi had informed that he had corresponded with his G20 counterparts, urging them to grant full membership to the African Union during this G20 Summit. PM Modi had suggested that the African Union, which comprises 55 African countries and was established in 2002, be accorded full membership upon their request.
In a recent editorial that has been published across newspapers, PM Modi wrote “The voice of Global South Summit, which witnessed participation from 125 countries, was one of the foremost initiatives under our Presidency.
It was an important exercise to gather inputs and ideas from the Global South. Further, our Presidency has not only seen the largest-ever participation from African countries but has also pushed for the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.”
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