US President Joe Biden will announce his country’s backing next week for the African Union’s initiative to become a permanent member of the G20 in a gesture aimed at garnering the support of its member states at a time when the influence of Russia and China on the continent increases.
This announcement will be the finale of the US-Africa Leaders Summit that will begin on Tuesday, December 13, in Washington and will last until next Thursday, according to the director of the National Security Council for African Affairs, Judd Devermont. , in a statement collected this Friday by the ‘Washington Post’.
“It is long overdue that Africa had a permanent seat in this organization,” Devermont said. “We need”, he added, “more African voices in international conversations on the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health and security”.
The initiative has been championed by the presidents of South Africa and Senegal, Cyril Ramaphosa and Macky Sall, who have come to directly ask Biden for support for the incorporation of the AU on behalf of the 55 African states.
This push also comes at a time when African countries have been hit hard by the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, making it difficult for the United States to win their support during the United Nations vote condemning Russia for the invasion and annexation of Ukrainian territories.
