G20 agrees full membership for African Union

The G20 agreed to grant the African Union permanent membership, Asharq Business said on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter, who added the leaders were expected to announce the decision during the current summit in India this weekend.

The move would give the African Union the same status as the European Union, from its current designation of “invited international organisation,” it added. Till now, the grouping had been made up of 19 countries and one regional organisation.

It is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is hosting the G20 summit, has made it a priority to grant the African Union full membership, according to the report.