Second United States-Africa summit: Joe Biden pleads for the entry of the African Union into the G20

Next Tuesday in Washington, Joe Biden is preparing to defend the integration of the African Union into the G20.

AP - Achmad Ibrahim

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

US President Joe Biden is preparing to defend the integration of the African Union into the G20.

This group brings together the nineteen most advanced economies in the world as well as the European Union.

The announcement will be made next week at the US-Africa Summit, which is due to kick off in Washington on Tuesday, December 13. 

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It is long overdue for Africa to have permanent seats at the table of international organizations and initiatives

,” said Judd Devermont, executive director for African affairs at the White House Security Council.

We need more African voices in international conversations about the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health and security

,” he added.

For now, only South Africa is part of the G20.

Washington will therefore plead for the integration of the African Union during this United States-Africa summit which is held over three days.

The subject will be discussed in particular with India, president of the G20 in 2023.

The United States does not hide it: it wants to get closer to Africa while

China

and Russia cultivate a growing influence there.

Joe Biden has previously supported the demand of African countries to have permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

He will have three days to court the heads of state of the continent gathered in Washington next week, for this second United States - Africa summit.

Friendly relations between the United States and Senegal

The Biden administration has more broadly supported the African Union's diplomatic role on the continent, and cultivated friendly relations with the current AU chair, Senegalese head of state Macky Sall,

who

is due next week. next at the summit in Washington.

Host of the G20 last month, Indonesia had also invited Macky Sall to participate in Bali.

All the leaders of the member countries of the African Union were invited, with the exception of the transitional presidents of Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Sudan.

These countries being suspended from the organization since their coup.

The

first United States

-

Africa

summit , held in 2014, was an initiative of Barack Obama. 

To read also: The African Union takes stock of Zlecaf and wants to rethink industrialization in Africa

(

And with

AFP)

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  • United States

  • Joe Biden

  • African Union

  • G20