NEW DELHI: In a significant development under India's G20 Presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (9 September) announced the addition of African Union as the latest permanent member of the group.

"I invite African Union President to have a seat as the permanent member of the G20," PM Modi said while chairing the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

"With support from all of you, I invite the African Union to join G20," PM Modi said while he was addressing leaders at the inaugural address of the two-day G20 Summit, which is being held in New Delhi till Sunday, September 10.

S Jaishankar, external affairs minister, then escorted Azali Assoumani, the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), to his seat at the G20 high table.

Last month, the Prime Minister at the B20 Summit had said India has a vision of inclusiveness and it has invited African countries for the G20 Summit for their permanent membership.

In June, PM Modi had written to all G20 members, proposing that the African Union be granted full membership at the summit. This step is aimed at enhancing Africa's voice on the global stage.

By granting full membership to the African Union, The prime minister aims to foster a more just, fair, and inclusive global governance system, a government source had said in June. This step would ensure that the voices and perspectives of African nations are given due importance and influence in global decision-making processes. It reflects India's commitment to promoting a more representative and balanced approach to global affairs.

He wrote, for India, it will be a symbolic and psychological victory with substantive outcomes as G21 will have a truly large representation on issues of global economy and governance.