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Biden to Back AU Admission to G20


U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on November 16, 2022.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on November 16, 2022.

President Joe Biden next week will announce U.S. support for the African Union's admission to the G20 group of the world's largest economies as a permanent member, a White House official said on Friday.

Biden will make the announcement during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, White House adviser Judd Devermont told The Washington Post, which first reported the upcoming announcement.

"It's past time Africa has permanent seats at the table in international organizations and initiatives," Devermont said.

"We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security," Devermont added.

He said the United States would discuss the African Union's role with India, the G20 president for 2023.

African Union Chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had urged Biden to increase their representation on the G20, Devermont told the Post.

The Biden administration has backed the African Union's diplomatic role on the continent and sought warm ties with the bloc's current chair Sall, who is expected at the Washington summit.

South Africa is the only G20 member from Africa.

49 Africa heads of state and the chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, will be in Washington December 13-15 for the three-day summit.

The summit is expected to prioritize initiatives in energy, financial services, climate change, food security and health care, while placing a greater emphasis on bilateral trade and investment.

Information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse

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