New Delhi - On Saturday, during a summit in New Delhi, the African Union was granted permanent membership in the G20, a gathering of the world's largest economies addressing pressing global challenges, all amid the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis.

During a brief televised inaugural session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement, marking the 55-member African bloc as the first new member of the G20 since its establishment in 1999, originally created in response to a series of financial crises.

"In alignment with the spirit of 'sabka saath' (with everyone), India proposed that the African Union be granted permanent G20 membership. I believe we are all in agreement with this proposal," Modi stated in Hindi.

Upon obtaining consent, Modi ceremonially used a gavel three times to signify the African Union's entry into the group. He invited the President of the African Union to take his place as a permanent member, with India's Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, escorting the current chairperson of the African Union, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, to his seat at the table. Modi warmly greeted Assoumani with a hug before the G20 leaders convened privately for their discussions.

The inclusion of the African Union, established in 2002, has been incorporated into the draft leaders' declaration currently being negotiated by the G20 member states, according to sources familiar with the matter. The African Union is anticipated to enjoy the same status as the 27-member European Union (EU), the sole regional bloc with full G20 membership.

Diplomats from G20 member states have noted that the African Union's inclusion is unlikely to result in a change in the G20's name.

In June, Modi wrote to fellow G20 leaders advocating for the African Union's full G20 membership. The proposal received support from key EU members, China, and Russia, albeit for different reasons. Besides the EU, influential G7 nations like Japan supported the move to provide African countries, representing the Global South, with a more significant role in global governance. China, given its substantial investments in Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative, hesitated to oppose the move, while Russia sought to engage more African states to counter its Western isolation over the Ukraine conflict.

While negotiations on a draft leaders' declaration have been hampered by discussions related to the Ukraine crisis, India is striving to achieve tangible outcomes in areas where it has led initiatives, such as financing for climate transition, digital public infrastructure, expediting the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs), and reforming global institutions and multilateral development banks.

India, during its G20 presidency, has also positioned itself as the "voice of the Global South," with the effort to include the African Union in the group of the world's wealthiest economies forming part of these endeavors."