The G20 Summit Occurs Soon – Could Other African Nations Join South Africa at the Meeting
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nigerian President Bola Tinumbu have been invited to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi, India.
- Nigeria, as the only non-G20 African nation, has received an invitation to the G20 summit this weekend.
- There is hope that the African Union (AU) will also gain admission to the G20 and represent the continent as a whole.
- However, the absence of Russia and China may overshadow Africa’s aspirations at the G20.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nigerian President Bola Tinumbu will be attending this year’s G20 summit in New Delhi, India. This summit presents an opportunity for world leaders to potentially include the African Union (AU) in the decision-making processes.
South Africa is currently the only African country that is part of the G20, but there is a strong push for Nigeria and the AU to be included as well.
According to Bloomberg, the G20 has agreed to grant permanent membership to the AU, an announcement that may be made during the summit. If this decision is implemented, the name “G20” will become outdated as it currently represents the 19 countries and the European Union involved in intergovernmental forums.
However, the AU stated on Thursday night that it has not received a direct invitation to the summit.
Lynne Muthoni Wanyeki, the executive director of Open Society-Africa, believes that admitting Africa to the G20 would be a significant step toward empowering the continent. She expressed that Africa has long demanded greater representation and urgency in the multilateral system.
Africa’s membership in the G20 is crucial due to the fact that the G20 countries account for approximately 80% of global economic output, nearly 75% of global exports, and around 60% of the world’s population.
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain, Sudan’s ambassador to India, believes that joining the G20 would greatly benefit Africa by allowing them to bring attention to their challenges and amplify their voices on a global scale.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his determination to push for Africa’s admission to the G20 during the summit, as he believes it is essential to address various issues affecting Africa such as trade, climate change, migration, and the war in Ukraine.
The G20 summit is expected to be marked by disagreements between major powers like the United States, Russia, and China. Russia has stated that it will block the final G20 declaration if its views on Ukraine and other international crises are not acknowledged. China’s President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the summit remains uncertain.
Although the United States, Russia, and China have expressed support for Africa’s inclusion in the G20, their grievances with each other could potentially hinder Africa’s aspirations.
In relation to the Ukraine conflict, Russia has expressed willingness to send grain to countries like Zimbabwe with the assistance of Turkey. The United States, on the other hand, is making diplomatic efforts to engage with Russia and resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
The goal is for Russia to re-enter the Black Sea Grain Initiative so that grain and food products can be delivered to their intended destinations through diplomacy.
*The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The views expressed in the Africa Desk’s stories and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.*
