G-20 Agrees to Give African Union Membership on Par With EU
- Leaders expected to announce decision at summit this weekend
- Move to give Africa greater voice in addressing global issues
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Group of 20 nations agreed to grant the African Union permanent membership status, according to people familiar with the matter, who said that leaders are expected to announce the decision during a summit in India this weekend.
The move would give the 55-member African Union, which is currently classified as an “invited international organization,” the same status as the EU, according to the people, who asked not to be identified. It’s part of a drive to provide African countries with a stronger voice on global issues such as climate change and emerging-market debt, particularly as emerging markets in the so-called Global South take on a more prominent role in world affairs.