Mbeki urges EU to back G8 role for Africa

Date: 11/10/01

By Martin Banks

PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki has called for African nations to be included in the G8 meetings of world leaders.

At present, only the world's eight leading industrial countries take part in the summits. But the South African leader said this had to change. "I would like to see broader participation. It has to happen. There has to be reform of G8 so that it isn't just for rich countries," he said.

Mbeki was speaking after a meeting between EU and African leaders in Brussels on 10 October to discuss methods of tackling poverty on the African continent.

He said he hoped the idea of Africa's participation would be discussed at next month's EU summit in Ghent.

The next G8 summit is due to take place in Canada next June. The meeting on Wednesday, which included Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, EU Commissioners Chris Patten and Poul Nielson, and four African heads of state, resulted in a five-point 'action plan for Africa' being drawn up.

Measures include proposals for EU and African leaders to meet twice-yearly and a pilot scheme for the training of civil servants in Africa.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has called for African nations to be included in the G8 meetings of world leaders.