US President, Joe Biden, has announced that he supports the African Union joining the G20 club of nations permanently.
“Africa belongs to the table in every room where challenges are being discussed and in every institution where discussions are taking place,” a France24 journalist quotes the president as saying.
This took place during the US-Africa summit taking place in Washington DC, which is seen as an American effort to re-assert its influence in Africa to counter Chinese involvement.
In the days leading up to the summit there have been reports the president would make such overtures, as a member of the National Security Council, Judd Devermont said “we need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health and security”.
Currently, out of the countries who have a permanent seat in the G20, none are African.
Other topics discussed at the summit, which concludes on Thursday, included investment, trade and energy, among others. (BBC)
