Mauritania’s success in chairing the African Union.
His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, presented a detailed report on the African Union’s participation in the G20 Summit in 2024 to the 38th Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa this Sunday morning. His Excellency the President of the Republic stated that this summit has acquired historic significance, as it represents the African Union’s first participation as a full member, which demonstrates the continent’s growing role in global economic governance and represents a major step forward. He added that he led the African Union delegation to the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18 and 19, 2024.
The African Union also participated throughout the year in G20 ministerial meetings, working groups, and Sherpa meetings, with the aim of ensuring that African interests are integrated into the global agenda.
His Excellency the President of the Republic emphasized that this first participation coincided with the Brazilian presidency of the G20, which discussed three main priorities: social inclusion, combating hunger and poverty, energy transition and sustainable development, and reforming global governance institutions. He noted that the summit focused on six strategic areas: implementing Agenda 2063, reforming the international financial architecture, food security and agriculture, energy transition, trade and investment, and health and vaccine production. He noted that the most prominent aspect of the summit was the launch of the Global Alliance to Fight Hunger and Poverty, of which the African Union is a founding member. His Excellency the President of the Republic added that the issue of combating hunger and poverty was a focus of the discussions, with some alarming figures. In 2023, 733 million people worldwide were suffering from hunger, and in Africa, one in five people (one-fifth) suffered from hunger. If immediate action is not taken, it is estimated that 300 million Africans will suffer from chronic malnutrition by 2030.
His Excellency the President of the Republic emphasized that the issue of debt was another central topic of the discussions. The G20 recognized the need to make the common debt framework more effective, transparent, and expeditious, which has led to significant progress for some African countries. He indicated that this commitment paved the way for a more ambitious reform of the African debt management framework and better coordination with international financial institutions.
Regarding economic development, His Excellency the President of the Republic noted that the G20 reaffirmed its support for the African Continental Free Trade Area and the G20 Africa Industrialization Initiative, which aims to enhance local production and the competitiveness of African industries. In the same context, the fight against illicit financial flows, which deprive Africa of approximately $80 billion annually, was reaffirmed.
