G20 Edges Toward African Union Membership, Name Change Appears Unlikely

The G20 nations are edging closer to an agreement to admit the African Union (AU) as a member of the group, with an official announcement expected during the upcoming summit hosted by India over the weekend, according to HT reports.

The inclusion of the AU, consisting of 55 African nations established in 2002, has been incorporated into the draft leaders' declaration currently under negotiation by G20 member states. While the proposal faces no immediate veto from any G20 member, it remains uncertain whether the AU's membership will be finalized at the New Delhi summit on September 9-10 or during the Brazilian presidency of the G20 in 2024.

In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged G20 counterparts to grant the AU full membership following a request from the AU itself. Russian Sherpa Svetlana Lukash confirmed that the draft leaders' declaration includes text regarding the AU's admission and mentioned that President Vladimir Putin, despite skipping the G20 Summit, supported the AU's candidacy during the Russia-Africa Summit in July.

The G20 consists of 19 countries and the European Union (EU), which also supports the AU's inclusion. Should the AU be admitted, it is expected to enjoy the same status as the 27-member EU, the sole regional bloc with full G20 membership. Importantly, the inclusion of the AU is not anticipated to prompt a change in the G20's name.

Leaders of EU member states within the G20-France, Italy, Germany, and the UK-are scheduled to hold a meeting with leaders of AU member states attending the G20 Summit, including Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius, and Comoros, in New Delhi on September 9. The meeting is part of the EU's outreach to the Global South, with discussions likely to encompass global institution reforms, multilateral development banks, infrastructure projects, investment, and resolution of regional conflicts in Africa.

The current G20 member states represent approximately 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and roughly two-thirds of the world's population. The AU's inclusion is expected to give African nations a more substantial voice in addressing global challenges, including climate transition, debt restructuring, and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, G20 state negotiators are continuing discussions to resolve differences on issues delaying the consensus outcome document, primarily the Ukraine crisis. Russia and China remain opposed to any text referring to the conflict. An official from a G7 state suggested that China's approach appeared aimed at obstructing all proposals from India. One proposal to break the deadlock involved issuing two separate outcome documents: one focusing on economic and developmental matters and another addressing geopolitical issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, this proposal did not find favor with the G7 states.