The AU Accession to the G20 Is Symbolic Yet Inconsequential የአፍሪካ ህብረት የG20 መቀላቀል ተምሳሌታዊ ቢሆንም ፋይዳው እጅግም ነው

The African Union (AU) has been officially admitted as a member of the G20 at its annual meeting in India, signifying the recognition of Africa as a prospective cohesive economic and political entity. Concurrently, this endeavour will amplify Africa's presence, significance, and influence on the international stage while simultaneously acting as a catalyst for advancing the collective goals of the African population.

This initiative originates from the countries of the global south. It aims to advocate for the need to reform global economic governance mechanisms, such as the United Nations Security Council, the World Trade Organisation, and other critical organisations. In addition to the objective of enhancing the participation of developing nations in international financial organisations via the establishment of a fair distribution of shares.

The inclusion would have symbolic significance as it acknowledges the increasing global relevance of Africa. Nevertheless, the potential influence of African states' participation in the G20 on decision-making and agenda-setting may be limited, contingent upon the capacity of African countries to use this affiliation to their advantage, as well as the disposition of current G20 members to actively address African concerns.

When contemplating the excitement of being a member of a forum, it is important to do a thorough analysis of the advantages and disadvantages associated with participating in such a platform. It is of utmost importance to critically examine and challenge the efficacy of the African Union (AU) in terms of its institutional capabilities and defining qualities.

In addition, it is necessary to do a comparative analysis with other comparable institutions, such as the European Union, in order to effectively fulfil the demographic requirements and aspirations of Africa. If not this, then how can we explain how this platform shift opens up global markets to Africa? While all factors are held constant, how does this platform help the "African benefit"?

Who are the G20 Decision Makers in Relation to Where the AU Stands? 

The present inquiry seeks to identify and compare the decision-makers within the G20 and the African Union. The approach will assist us in comprehending the mandate and institutional void, not only in terms of individual industrial nations but also with the European Union. Prior to delving into the subject matter, it is necessary to examine the organisational framework of the AU thoroughly.

The AU may be seen as an organisation comprised of the heads of state, functioning as a collective body. The degree to which heads of state effectively represent the populations of their different countries is a topic that warrants thorough consideration. It is essential to inquire about the number of nations that possess a constitutional democracy and ascertain the presence of lawful governing systems on the continent.

The European Union exercises supranational jurisdiction, giving it the power to enact legislation across a range of policy domains, such as trade, competition, and the environment. This facilitates the establishment of a unified market and the enforcement of shared rules. The African Union has a lower degree of supranational power in comparison to the European Union since member states maintain a considerable level of autonomy. This characteristic poses difficulties in effectively implementing shared policies.

The AU faces resource limitations, which have implications for its capacity to finance and maintain its missions and development endeavours. Notably, the primary donor nations mainly belong to the G20. On the other hand, the EU has a comprehensive and intricate institutional structure, including several entities, such as the European Commission, European Parliament, European Council, and other authorities. This approach facilitates the effective formulation and implementation of decisions.

Certain institutions within the African Union have faced criticism due to perceived deficiencies in their competence and efficiency, which have been identified as obstacles to the effective execution of the organization's policies and programmes. The European Union employs several processes, including qualified majority voting (QMV) and co-decision procedures, to streamline the decision-making process among its member states despite the inherent complexity involved.

The expectation is that the AU would be able to utilise its representation at the G20 to lobby for increased investment in Africa, to foster trade between Africa and other industrialised countries, and to guarantee that Africa's voice is heard in debates on global economic deliberations.

The African Union's capacity to effectively implement decisive measures, especially in addressing crises, is limited due to the absence of institutional authority and adequate representation of its citizens. Conversely, the European Union is renowned for its rigorous regulatory standards and endeavours towards harmonisation. These initiatives play a significant role in ensuring product safety, safeguarding the interests of citizens, and fostering a fair and balanced environment for all stakeholders.

The primary emphasis of the G20 revolves around economic matters, including areas such as financial stability, trade, and development. The entrance of the African Union to the G20 might potentially result in an increased focus on African development and trade-related issues within the G20 agenda. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that the fundamental objective of the G20 will undergo substantial changes since it continues to prioritise the realm of global economic regulation

Despite Africa's Many Flaws, The Prospects Are Enormous

Despite the numerous obstacles Africa faces, there is a significant amount of optimism and aspiration. The perspective can only be realised if the current African leadership decides to reorganise the African Union in a substantial manner by instituting a model of governance centred on the people. Which ultimately results in a decision and negotiation made by the supranational entity in its own capacity.

Africans are now seeing a transition from a detrimental cycle to a beneficial one in a discreet manner. In order to maintain a favourable perception from industrialised countries, African states must diligently undertake their responsibilities in a suitable way to advance to subsequent stages.

Africa is unquestionably host to a number of countries that are experiencing tremendous growth, and its young demographic represents a substantial market and workforce. Through the inclusion of the African Union, industrialised nations demonstrate their keenness to actively participate in Africa's economic potential and their aspiration to foster economic progress and stability throughout the continent.

It is widely acknowledged that the G20 primarily functions as an informal platform for global economic cooperation and policy deliberation rather than being regarded as a formal global governance institution. Nevertheless, soft power has the capacity to influence the operations of established international institutions such as the United Nations or the World Trade Organisation.

Therefore, the incorporation of the African Union is unlikely to significantly alter the decision-making process or organisational structure of the G20. The extent to which the AU can effectively align its aims with the interests of the existing members of the G20 will determine its influence inside the group. However, this influence should not be achieved at the expense of relinquishing the aspirations of African people for political and economic independence.

The potential consequences of the African Union's inclusion in the (G20) would be contingent upon the adeptness with which African states use this forum to promote their own agendas. Although the existence of the AU may provide prospects for conversation and collaboration, the attainment of tangible policy objectives would need adept diplomacy and alignment with the interests of the established G20 members.

Nevertheless, several scholars contend that the African Union's inclusion in the G20 mostly has symbolic significance and is unlikely to influence Africa's progress significantly. It is observed that the G20 is mainly controlled by affluent industrialised nations, hence diminishing the likelihood of substantial influence for the AU inside its decision-making framework. Additionally, it is said that the African Union (AU) is characterised by inherent weaknesses and divisions, hence diminishing its capacity to successfully advocate for Africa's interests via its representation at the G20.

The representation of varied interests and economies inside Africa by the African Union (AU) presents both an opportunity and a difficulty. This has the potential to facilitate the establishment of a cohesive African stance inside the G20. This activity will effectively prevent and result in diverse African nations possessing distinct economic, political, and strategic agendas.

Notwithstanding these complaints, the African Union's inclusion in the G20 represents a favourable advancement for the African continent. The increasing significance of Africa in the global economy is evident, as shown by the AU's enhanced representation and influence within the primary platform for international economic collaboration. The African Union should strategically use its position within the G20 to actively promote and safeguard Africa's interests while also ensuring the effective representation of Africa's perspectives in global economic deliberations.

Seife Tadelle Kidane (PhD) is a senior research fellow at the IPATC, University of Johannesburg. He is the director for Africa Speaks-Centre for Governance and Intra Africa Trade Studies, and a member of the AISSS Executive Board Director and the head of strategic research.