Joe Biden is expected to announce his support for the African Union’s admission to the G20 in the course of the week.
According to a White House official, President Joe Biden will declare this week that the United States would support the African Union’s admittance as a permanent member to the G20 group of the world’s top Economic countries.
According to White House adviser Judd Devermont, Biden will make the news during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington this week, where he will meet African presidents.
“We need more African voices in international dialogues about the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security,” Devermont remarked.
According to Devermont, the action comes in response to demands from African Union Chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Africa is the sole African member of the G20 in a Continent of 55 member states.
“It’s long overdue for Africa to have permanent seats at the table in international institutions and projects,” Devermont said, adding that the move builds on Washington’s Sub-Saharan Africa policy.
In August, the United States issued a new Sub-Saharan Africa policy statement, emphasizing the region’s importance, the risks presented by China and Russia, and committing to expand defense cooperation with like-minded African countries.
In November, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States would have to do things differently in order to assist Africa with its infrastructure requirements, and that it was time to stop considering Africa as a geopolitical concern and instead as a key actor on its own.
