African experts call for permanent African Union Secretariat to strengthen G20 role

When world leaders gather in South Africa for the G20 Summit in November, Africa will be pressing to redefine the continent’s place in global governance. The call was made clear at a recent media roundtable hosted by AfriCatalyst and Global Health Strategies; Africa must move from “presence to influence.”

The discussion, which brought together think tanks, media personalities, and policy experts, coincided with the launch of a landmark policy brief, Maximizing Africa’s Influence in the G20 authored by Daouda Sembene, AfriCatalyst CEO; Ibrahim Mayaki, Former Prime Minister of Niger; and Dr. Hamady Diop, Founder of DNS Consulting and former CAADP Post-Malabo Coordinator.”

The report urges African countries to consolidate their role by shaping agendas, reforming multilateral frameworks, and pushing climate and development priorities aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Case for a Permanent Secretariat

One of the strongest recommendations from the dialogue was the establishment of a permanent African Union G20 Secretariat. Dr. Hamady Diop emphasized that such an institution would boost Africa’s visibility as an agenda-setter rather than a passive participant in global governance.

“A permanent secretariat would guarantee continuity, ensuring Africa’s G20 agenda is consistent and not dependent on rotating presidencies or ad-hoc coordination,” Dr. Diop noted. Such an office would also function as an institutional memory bank, tracking commitments made to Africa while equipping the continent with technical expertise and strategic foresight to influence negotiations.

In practice, this would align African priorities ranging from debt reform to food security and climate finance with long-term visions such as the Agenda 2063’s aspiration for inclusive growth. The G20 has historically proven its ability to mobilize resources during crises. For instance, the G20 crafted a global stimulus package that restored financial stability during the 2008–2009 global financial crisis.

“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) provided relief to 40 least-developed countries (most of them in Africa) by pausing debt reimbursements and offering fiscal space to channel resources into development priorities,” Dr. Diop added.

Debt Reform and Homegrown Solutions

Debt sustainability remains a central theme in Africa’s engagement with global financial institutions. Mma Amara Ekeruche, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), reminded participants that while the G20’s Common Framework for debt treatment was designed to offer relief, implementation has been slow and complex. Zambia’s restructuring, for example, took 3.5 years to finalize, reflecting systemic inefficiencies.

“Africa must therefore complement global mechanisms with homegrown solutions. Côte d’Ivoire’s successful debt-for-climate swaps demonstrate how innovative financing can simultaneously ease fiscal burdens while unlocking resources for green investment,” said Ekeruche.

The roundtable also shed light on the strategic importance of Africa’s vast mineral resources such as lithium and cobalt. These critical inputs power the global energy transition, yet Africa remains locked in a pattern of exporting raw materials with limited value addition.

Ekeruche underscored the need for value chain addition and supply chain integration that ensures local businesses and entrepreneurs participate, gaining access to knowledge and technology transfer. Such an approach would not only generate jobs and industrial growth but also enhance Africa’s leverage in global negotiations on energy and digital transitions. 

Additionally, with Africa losing billions each year to profit-shifting by multinational corporations, Ekeruche stressed the importance of enforcing the OECD-backed global minimum corporate tax of 15%. Treating multinationals as global entities, she argued, would prevent tax avoidance and allow African states to mobilize domestic revenues and reduce reliance on external borrowing.

Climate Justice as a Bargaining Tool

Africa’s role in the G20 must be reframed through the lens of climate justice and economic reparations. Alvin Munyasia, Climate Fellow at AGNES Africa, argued the G20 should not only recognize Africa as a vulnerable continent but also as a strategic actor shaping the global climate agenda.

“The G20 should redefine climate finance based on need, equity and justice and reject green-washing and commodification of climate issues. Developing finance mechanisms that respect common but differentiated responsibilities will ensure Africa’s re-adaptation and mitigation priorities are funded,” said Munyasia.

Africa requires $300 billion annually by 2035 for climate action, while the broader global demand is set to reach $1.3 trillion annually by 2030. G20 countries, responsible for approximately 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, have consistently failed to fulfill their pledges. Initial commitments made for the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28, which totaled just over $400 million, constituted merely 0.2% of the total amount needed to address the irreversible effects of climate change and global warming.

Crucially, Munyasia called for a minimum threshold of public, grant-based financing to ensure that adaptation and mitigation remain adequately funded: “It’s time to curate a mechanism to platform the Pan-African reparation agenda and link it to climate justice, economic justice and historical redress,” he noted.