LEADERS of the G20, a group comprising advanced economies, unanimously agreed to grant the African Union (AU) permanent membership status, putting it on par with the European Union within the organization.
Various media reports say that the move to grant membership to the African Union garnered support from key nations, including Russia and Senegal, whose President Macky Sall, former African Union Chair, argued that it rectifies an ‘injustice’.
African Nations collectively hold the eighth position in global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
African Union yet to receive G20 invitation—Spokesperson
However, Ebba Kalondo, spokesperson for African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki, said the bloc has not yet received an invitation to the G20 Summit.
To recall, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who currently holds the G20 presidency, expressed that he wants the AU to become a G20 member, which currently counts only one African country that is South Africa.
