Africa Has Room For India, the 5th-largest superpower, according to Azali Assoumani, the head of the African Union, who was present at the G20 summit

Azali Assoumani, the head of the African Union (AU), said on Sunday that there is place for India in Africa since it is the fifth-largest powerhouse in the world.

Additionally, Assoumani characterized the two days of the G20 Summit’s deliberations as “fruitful”.

During the G20 Summit held under India’s leadership, the African Union (AU) was admitted as a permanent member, which has been hailed as a success given that India has made the advocacy of the concerns of the developing world a focal point of its foreign policy and multilateral engagements.

Assoumani said, “As we all know, India is the fifth superpower in the world, so there is enough room for India in Africa,” in remarks made outside of the G20 Summit. India’s strength—which we also know—is such that it ventured into space. So all we need to do is collaborate. In terms of population, India is a powerhouse and has just surpassed China.

In a separate private meeting, Assoumani spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a variety of topics, including commerce and shipping.

Indian efforts to have the AU become a permanent G20 member are also regarded as a response to Chinese involvement in the region. China has reached out to many African nations via its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and has amassed sizable holdings on the continent. However, the initiatives are criticized for trapping host and partner nations in debt and delivering projects with little real world use.

Manish Dabhade, an international affairs expert, previously told Outlook that India has been pushing for the Global South to be more integrated on the global stage and has pushed for the AU to join the G20 in order to give the developing world a stronger voice in multilateral forums. He added that this also works to balance China in Africa.

“Indian foreign policy and interests depend on its ability to lead the developing world. China’s involvement in Africa and developing nations worldwide is rebuffed by India’s inclusion of the AU in the G20 and other activities in Africa and beyond. Due to India’s efforts, G20 participation, and China’s strong engagement in Africa, Africa has an alternative to China and a voice on the international arena that China can not supply. In this regard, the AU’s participation in the G20 is significant and consistent with India’s engagement with the Global South, according to Dabhade, who is also the founder of the think tank India Futures.