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he African Union (AU) attended the G20 summit in November 2024, under the leadership of Brazil’s presidency. This was the AU’s first time attending as a full member and a watershed moment for amplifying Africa’s voice in global forums.  

The AU, made up of more than 50 nations, debuted as a full member of the G20 this year after upgrading from its previous status as an “invited international organization.” The G20 is an intergovernmental economic forum comprising 19 countries and two regional unions, the European Union and now the AU. It represents 85% of the global economy, 75% of world trade, and 67% of the global population. 

The AU was represented at the 2024 G20 summit by its chairperson of the Assembly, with assistance from the AU Commission chairperson, as decided at the 37th AU summit in Addis Ababa in February 2024. This decision was a compromise following a dispute on the leadership of the AU delegation and may not prove to be an effective long-term attendance formula for future G20 summits.  

The 37th AU summit also identified six priorities to shape its engagement with the G20. These priorities not only address the most pressing concerns of Africa but also align with broader areas of debate within the G20. These include: accelerating the implementation of the AU’s Agenda 2063; intensifying advocacy for reform of the international financial architecture and sovereign debt restructuring; increasing agricultural outputs towards food security; advancing the green energy transition; enhancing trade and attracting investments to support the Africa Continental Free Trade Area; and improving Africa’s credit rating to boost investment, health, and vaccine manufacturing.  

The South African presidency of the G20 began in December 2024 and is focused on fostering “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.” It seeks to address critical global challenges, particularly for Africa’s development. A key focus will be addressing the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality as well as Africa’s development in alignment with the AU’s Agenda 2063. At the G20 summit in November, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized inclusive economic growth, food security, and artificial intelligence as South Africa’s priorities for the coming year. 

2025 presents the AU with an opportunity to collaborate with South Africa, the host of the first-ever G20 summit in Africa. But South Africa and the AU will need to be realistic and avoid the lengthy aspirational framing that Brazil and many other presidencies have aspired to, as this may simply alienate members who do not share some of the founding G20 principles. Remaining focused on limited and practical deliverables will ultimately be a more productive strategy for advancing Africa’s interests on the global stage.