G20 Summit: ‘African Union is now permanent member of G20,’ says PM

The highly anticipated 18th G20 Summit has begun today under the Indian presidency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes top leaders of the world’s leading economies this morning at the Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition-Convention Centre in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. During the Summit, PM Modi announced the African Union to be a permanent member of the Group of 20 countries.

African Union is now a permanent part of G20 nations: PM Modi

In his opening remarks, PM Modi invited the AU, represented by Chairperson Azali Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member.

“With everyone’s approval, I request the AU head to take his seat as a permanent G20 member,” the prime minister said.

After PM Modi’s announcement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar accosted the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani as he took his seat among world leaders.

Notably, this major move of adding the African Union is one of India’s key aims to achieve during the ongoing G20 Summit. PM Modi earlier proposed this move to include the AU as permanent member in June.

PM Modi on Morocco earthquake

During his address, PM Modi also extended grief and condolences over the tragic demise of hundreds in the Morocco earthquake. He said, “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.”

Recently, in June, the prime minister said that he had written to G20 counterparts to provide the African Union with full membership at this G20 Summit. PM Modi had proposed that the AU, a bloc of 55 countries from the African continent that was launched in 2002, be given full membership at their request.