South African Prez 'Delighted' As African Union Becomes G20 Member, Argentina Lauds Huge Step Forward

G20 Summit: President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed gratitude for the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 as a permanent member.

G20 Summit India: The African Union on Saturday expressed its gratitude to the G20 nations as the bloc accpeted the Union as a permanent member of the grouping. This comes after PM Narendra Modi invited African Union Chairperson Azali Assoumani, during his inaugural address to G20 leaders, to take his seat at the high table. "On behalf of the African continent, I sincerely thank all the member countries of the @g20org for this historic admission," Assoumani posted on X. 

African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat welcomed the move saying, "this membership, for which we have long been advocating, will provide a propitious framework for amplifying advocacy in favor of the Continent and its effective contribution to meeting global challenges."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also welcomed the decision of the G20 nations to accept the African Union as a permanent member of the group, and called for enhanced and expanded global partnership for sustainable development. He said that in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the new global order presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient and sustainable societies. 

"We are delighted that the #G20 has accepted the @_AfricanUnion as a member of the #G20. Global reconstruction in the wake of the #COVID19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition to low-carbon, climate resilient, sustainable societies," the South African president said.

Expressing concerns that developing economies bearing the brunt of climate change, "despite carrying the least responsibility for this crisis", Ramaphosa said, "As African and other developing economy countries, we face the task of meeting our climate commitments in the midst of significant developmental challenges like poverty, inequality and unemployment."

"Climate change, environmental degradation, unsustainable consumption and production and resource scarcity are challenges that can only be addressed collectively and with a great deal of solidarity," he added.

"South Africa calls for an enhanced and expanded Global Partnership for Sustainable Development," Ramaphosa said adding that these must be supported by the concrete policies and actions outlined in the "Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development".

Responding to Ramaphosa's tweet, Modi said, "With the @_AfricanUnion strengthening the G20 family, we will cement partnerships that prioritise all-round development, leading to a better planet."

Lauding the move, Argentina President Alberto Fernández said that he proposed that Latin American and Caribbean States will also be included in the bloc. "I think the Indian presidency has taken a huge step forward by incorporating the African Union into the G20. I have proposed that based on that decision, the G20 should incorporate the community of Latin American and Caribbean States which undergo a situation very similar to that of the African Union," he said.