WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Joe Biden plans to announce at next week鈥檚 U.S.-Africa summit that his administration supports adding the African Union as a permanent member of the Group of 20 nations, according to the White House.
The African Union represents the continent鈥檚 54 countries. The G-20 is composed of the world鈥檚 major industrial and emerging economies and represents more than 80% of the world鈥檚 gross domestic product. South Africa is currently the only African member of the G-20.
鈥淚t鈥檚 past time Africa has permanent seats at the table in international organizations and initiatives,鈥 the senior director for African affairs on the 春色直播 Security Council, Judd Devermont, said in a statement Friday. 鈥淲e need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security.鈥
Biden has invited 49 African leaders to take part in the three-day Washington summit that starts Tuesday.
The G-20 representation would allow African countries to more effectively press the group to implement its pledge to help the continent to cope with climate change. The high-profile push for inclusion in the G-20 comes at a time when the AU has shown renewed unity and purpose on some high-profile issues, banding together to combat COVID-19 and establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area, which came into force in early 2021.
African Union officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the White House announcement.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, at last month鈥檚 G-20 gathering in Indonesia, underscored the importance of African Union membership in achieving climate goals.
鈥淲e call for continued G-20 support for the African Renewable Energy Initiative as a means of bringing clean power to the continent on African terms,鈥 Ramaphosa told the gathering. 鈥淭his can be best achieved with the African Union joining the G-20 as a permanent member."
Devermont said the announcement builds on the administration鈥檚 strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa and its advocacy for adding permanent members from Africa to the U.N. Security Council.
Senegalese President Macky Sall, the current AU chairperson, has made the case that by adding the African Union the G-20 鈥渨ould come to represent the views of 54 additional members, the bulk of low-income countries, and about 80% of the world鈥檚 population.鈥
鈥淭he G-20 compromises its effectiveness and influence by omitting such a large fraction of humanity and the world economy," Sall wrote in Devex, a news organization covering global development, in July.
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Anna reported from Nairobi.
