Russia Prez Vladimir Putin hopes African Union gets G20 membership in September

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country hopes that the African Union are granted full membership of the G20 forum, the decision about which will be taken at the group’s meeting at the New Delhi Summit in September, a statement released by the Kremil said on Thursday.

President Putin, who has seen his international stock drop since the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, attended a trilateral meeting with Azali Assoumani, the Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Comoros, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

In the meeting, Putin said, “…I would like to say that we [Russia] view the African Union as a leading regional organisation that shapes the modern security structure on the continent and paves the way for Africa to take its rightful place in the system of global economic links.

“We support the [African] Union’s involvement in the work of leading international associations. I would like to remind you that Russia was one of the first to react positively to the initiative advanced by the President of Senegal, who preceded you in this position [AU Chairperson], for granting the African Union full membership in the G20. We hope that the decision will be adopted at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September.”

Putin said that the issue of the G20 membership will be discussed in the Russia-Africa summit, alongside discussions on topics related to trade and economic cooperation, as well as cooperation in ‘all areas’.

Relations between African Union, Russia based on respect: Vladimir Putin

Putin said, “We will give priority attention to these issues at the summit, which opens today. We will also discuss practical decisions on building up trade and economic cooperation, ensuring food and energy security, and developing national healthcare systems.

“We highly value our relations with the Union of the Comoros. They are based on the principles of mutual respect and a balance of each other’s interests and have development potential in a number of spheres. Of course, we are open to cooperation with your country in all areas.”

Putin further said that despite the ‘illegal sanctions’ imposed on Russia by the Western countries, trade between them and the African Union has reached approximately US$18 billion in 2022, and the figures have increased by a further 35% in the first six months of 2023.

Putin further revealed several plans for the African Union, such as the decision that Russia would soon provide free grains to six African nations, as well as the plans to establish a Russian industrial zone near the Suez Canal in Egypt.