In a tweet posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), he expressed his welcome for the African Union's full membership in the G20 and emphasized the importance of this development for advocating on behalf of Africa and its effective participation in addressing global issues.
While the African Union consists of 55 member states, six nations under military rule are currently suspended. Collectively, the AU represents a GDP of $3 trillion and a population of approximately 1.4 billion people.
Prior to the AU's inclusion, the G20 comprised 19 countries and the European Union, accounting for 85 percent of the world's GDP, with South Africa being the sole African member.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is attending the summit, expressed optimism about Africa's enhanced role on the global stage through the G20 platform, emphasizing the continent's aspirations.
Kenyan President William Ruto highlighted the significance of giving African interests and perspectives a voice and visibility within the G20. He noted that with Africa's anticipated growth in the coming years, having a seat at the table would enable the continent to influence G20 decisions in line with its interests.
Furthermore, Ruto mentioned that the outcomes of the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit, which included reforms of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks, would be among the priorities advanced by the African Union within the G20 framework.
