President Biden to announce support for African Union to join G20
President Biden to announce support for African Union to join the world's largest economies group, G20
President Biden to announce support for African Union to join the world’s largest economies group, G20.
A White House official said on Friday that President Joe Biden will announce this week that the United States will support the African Union’s admission as a permanent member to the G20 group of the world’s largest economies.
According to White House adviser Judd Devermont, Biden will make the announcement at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington next week, where he will meet African presidents.
“We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security,” Devermont said.
According to Devermont, the move follows requests from African Union Chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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South Africa is Africa’s sole G20 member. The AU is made up of 55 member states.
“It’s past time Africa has permanent seats at the table in international organizations and initiatives,” Devermont said, adding that the move builds on Washington’s strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa.
In August, the United States released a new Sub-Saharan Africa strategy document, emphasizing the region’s importance, the threats posed by China and Russia, and vowing to expand defense cooperation with like-minded African countries.
In November, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington would have to do things differently to assist Africa with its infrastructure needs, and that it was time to stop treating the continent as a geopolitical subject and instead treat it as a major player in its own right.
Africa requires billions of dollars per year for roads, railways, dams, and power, and has received massive sums in the last decade from China, which generally does not tie money to political or rights-related conditions.
Washington has characterized Chinese lending as predatory and potentially leading to debt traps, and has focused on facilitating private investment, but officials acknowledge that more assistance is needed.
Some have accused the Biden administration of being inattentive to Africa, a common criticism of US foreign policy that has grown louder since China established political and economic ties on the continent.
However, Biden’s tone differs from that of former President Donald Trump, who disparaged some African countries and barred travel from six of them.
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