Making the AfCFTA a Core Pillar of the next G20 Summit

The Group of Twenty (G20) is a prominent international forum of 19 sovereign states (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States), alongside the European Union (EU) and, since September 2023, the African Union (AU). This assembly deliberates and formulates responses to pressing global economic issues, including the stability of international finance, climate change mitigation, and the pursuit of sustainable development. Initially convened biennially, the G20 Summits, bringing together Heads of State and Government, have been held on an annual basis since 2011. The upcoming G20 Summit, scheduled for November 22-23, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa, marks a significant milestone as it will be the first such high-level meeting to take place on the African continent. The overarching theme for this Summit will be “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”. Guided by this principle, South Africa's presidency aims to build upon the developmental agendas championed by preceding Global South presidencies, with the objective of fostering a people-centered and inclusive sustainable development.

A significant opportunity exists to strategically position the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the forefront of discussions during the forthcoming G20 Summit. The AfCFTA, with its core focus on industrialization, job creation, and sustainable development, directly aligns with the G20's established commitments to inclusive economic growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating the AfCFTA into the G20's agenda, member states can simultaneously achieve the following:

• Strengthen Global Economic Governance and Representation: As the world's largest free trade area by the number of participating nations, the AfCFTA offers a powerful platform for African States to engage with the G20, amplifying their voice and enhancing their bargaining power in shaping global economic policies, trade frameworks, and development strategies. However, realising this potential requires reforming the role of the AU Commission, giving this institution supranational powers to represent, negotiate and speak on behalf of African states, similar to the European Commission in the European Union. The AU Commission could play a key role in ensuring that the specific needs and priorities of the African continent receive greater global attention and consideration, fostering collaborations in critical areas such as infrastructure development, industrialisation, and technology transfer.

• Catalyze New Avenues for Robust Global Economic Growth and Resilience: By promoting intra-African trade, fostering industrial diversification, and promoting interconnected regional value chains, the AfCFTA has the potential to serve as a new engine for global economic expansion, offering promising new consumer markets and investment opportunities for G20 nations. Furthermore, by strengthening economic linkages within the African continent, the AfCFTA can contribute significantly to the diversification and enhanced resilience of global supply chains, a matter of paramount importance for the G20 in the face of increasing global uncertainties and disruptions. AfCFTA State Parties can also serve as crucial partners in addressing pressing global challenges such as ensuring food security, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and fostering digital transformation through collaborative initiatives, such as promoting sustainable agricultural development and establishing efficient regional food markets.

• Facilitate Equitable and Sustainable Financing and Investment Flows: Integrating the specific financing and investment needs of the AfCFTA into G20 discussions can pave the way for the development of more tailored and equitable funding mechanisms in key sectors that are crucial for sustainable development and inclusive growth, such as transportation networks (roads, railways, ports, airports), energy infrastructure (power generation and transmission), water and sanitation systems, ICT infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, education, climate adaptation and resilience, among others.

To sum up, there is an opportunity to integrate the AfCFTA transformative agenda within the G20 framework. By acting as a cohesive and influential African voice, the AU Commission can position itself as an indispensable partner for the G20 in effectively tackling complex global challenges and fostering a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable global order for all. However, in order to play this role, a reform of the AU Commission may be necessary. This reform should ideally grant the Commission supranational powers, empowering it to negotiate binding agreements, comprehensively represent the interests of all African Union member states, and articulate unified positions on the global stage with a single, authoritative voice. Such an enhanced mandate would significantly amplify Africa's impact within the G20, ensuring that its perspectives and priorities are effectively integrated into global policy discussions and collaborative initiatives.