African Union in G20: A look at the G20’s latest member

Source: The post is based on the article “African Union in G20: A look at the G20’s latest member”  published in Indian Express on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

The African Union (AU) has been admitted as a new member of the G20.

This development took place at the ongoing 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi.

What is the African Union(AU)?

Launched in: 2002 (The grouping is the successor of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was formed in 1963)

Members: It is an intergovernmental organization of the 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.

Purpose: To build an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens.

Secretariat: Addis Ababa. 

Significance: Collectively the group has a gross domestic product (gdp) of $3 trillion with some 1.4 billion people.

What are the objectives of the AU?

AU aims to unite African nations, accelerate the process of the political and socio-economic integration of the continent and address their social, economic and political challenges. 

It also aims to promote peace, stability, security and human rights in the region.

What are the notable achievements of the AU?

Firstly, AU’s peacekeeping missions have helped governments tackle terrorism across Africa, from the Sahel to northern Mozambique.

Secondly, AU’s diplomatic efforts have also resulted in resolving conflicts in Africa.In 2022, it brokered a peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in South Africa.

Thirdly, the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which came into force in 2021, is yet another achievement of the organization.With 54 member countries as signatories, AfCFTA is the world’s largest new free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994.

What have been the shortcomings of the AU?

Firstly, it has been unable to thwart coups in Africa.Since the 1960s, the continent has witnessed more than 200 coups – the most recent ones took place in Gabon and Niger.

Secondly, it has also been unable to get its member countries to pay their annual dues, leaving it starved of funds.As a result, it has to depend on external funding, which impacts its autonomy.