NEW DELHI: Azali Assoumani, who serves as both the President of the Union of Comoros and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), has arrived New Delhi. His visit is in connection with the annual G20 summit hosted by India this year. Upon his arrival at the New Delhi airport, Assoumani was greeted by Raosaheb Danve, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways.
In June 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a significant step aimed at enhancing Africa's presence on the global stage and shaping the collective destiny of the world. He engaged in dialogue with his G20 counterparts, urging them to extend full membership to the African Union during the upcoming G20 summit.
Prime Minister Modi's proposal is centered on granting full membership to the African Union, which comprises 55 African nations and was established in 2002, based on their formal request. He has been a steadfast advocate and champion of African interests, taking a prominent leadership role in this endeavor. India contends that such a move would contribute to a fairer, more just, inclusive, and representative global framework and governance structure.
Prime Minister Modi also strongly believes in giving a stronger voice to countries from the Global South on international platforms, particularly African nations. As part of India's G20 Presidency, he has placed special emphasis on incorporating the priorities of African countries into the G20 agenda.
In a recent editorial published in newspapers, Prime Minister Modi stated, "The Global South Summit, which saw participation from 125 countries, was one of the key initiatives during our Presidency. It served as an important forum for gathering inputs and ideas from the Global South. Additionally, our Presidency has not only witnessed the largest-ever participation from African countries but has also advocated for the African Union's inclusion as a permanent member of the G20."
Furthermore, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his support for the inclusion of the African Union as a member of the G20, stating his enthusiasm for such an outcome.
The G20 Leader's Summit is set to take place in New Delhi at the newly inaugurated Bharat Mandapam on September 9-10. The summit will be attended by over 30 heads of state, senior officials from the European Union, invited guest nations, and 14 leaders of international organizations.
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