PODCAST: Africa in a changing global order: G20 membership and elusive peace in Somalia and Sudan
The African Union’s (AU) inclusion as a permanent member of the G20 marks a significant milestone for Africa in global economic governance. This historic development underscores the continent's growing influence and acknowledges its potential. The G20, encompassing approximately 85 per cent of the world's GDP and over 75 per cent of international trade, has historically been critiqued for its lack of inclusive representation, particularly from the Global South. The AU's membership ushers in a new era of inclusivity and is a stride towards rectifying the representational deficit, promising to amplify the collective voice of Africa's 55 nations within this critical economic forum.
While the AU has taken up this new position at the G20, the institution has gained its international profile mainly through its peace and security work. The significance of AU’s growing role in the international peace and security architecture has been recognized in the recent New Agenda for Peace by the Secretary-General of the UN. The contribution of the AU to international peace and security is currently reflected in its roles in Somalia and Sudan.
In this episode of the NUPI podcast The World Stage, Solomon Dersso (Amani Africa) and Cedric de Coning (NUPI) discuss the latest initiatives by the AU to try to bring an end to the war in Sudan, the next phase of the AU’s Peace Support Operations (PSO) in Somalia, the relationship between the African Union and the United Nations (UN) and what this will mean for possible UN funding for AU-led Peace Operations, and what this will all mean for the AU’s new role as a G20 member.
Solomon Dersso is the founding director of Amani Africa, an independent pan-African policy research, training and consulting think tank with expertise on the African Union’s policy processes, including especially the work of the Peace and Security Council.
Cedric de Coning is Research Professor in the research group on peace, conflict and development at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).
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