Africa Needs its own ‘G-Club’ to Meet the Challenges at Home and Globally

This policy briefing argues that Africa should establish an informal 'club of states'—similar to the G8 or G20—composed of its most capable powers to overcome the ineffectiveness of formal multilateral institutions like the African Union. The author proposes an 'A5 Club' consisting of South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia, and Kenya to coordinate continental initiatives and provide a unified voice in global affairs.

• The author argues that informal 'clubs of state' are more effective than formal multilateral institutions because they offer flexibility, informality, and a smaller membership that facilitates consensus and the exchange of views without the need for formal negotiated outcomes.
• The African Union (AU) and other regional organisations are described as ineffective due to a prioritisation of equality among states over effectiveness, which leads to weak compromises and delays in addressing political and economic challenges.
• The document proposes the creation of an 'A5 Club' consisting of five key powers: South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia, and Kenya. This group would be tasked with ending violent conflicts, stabilising failing states, fighting organised crime and warlords, and steering AU political processes.
• Membership for the proposed club should be based on effectiveness and power resources rather than democratic legitimacy, though the author suggests ensuring regional representation to provide 'output-legitimacy'.
• The author suggests that South Africa and Nigeria should lead the formation of the club, potentially starting with an invitation to other powers during a meeting of the Nigerian–South African Bi-National Commission.
• The author justifies the exclusion of certain states from the core club: North African countries are seen as operating in a different cultural and political context; Sudan is viewed as a 'pariah state'; and the DRC is described as a 'sleeping giant' unable to use its power for the foreseeable future.

APA

Mair, S. (2010). Africa Needs its own ‘G-Club’ to Meet the Challenges at Home and Globally. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Policy-Briefing-12.pdf

Chicago

Mair, Stefan. Africa Needs its own ‘G-Club’ to Meet the Challenges at Home and Globally. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2010. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Policy-Briefing-12.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mair |first1=Stefan |title=Africa Needs its own ‘G-Club’ to Meet the Challenges at Home and Globally |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=January 2010 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Policy-Briefing-12.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mair2010africa, author = {Mair, Stefan}, title = {{Africa Needs its own ‘G-Club’ to Meet the Challenges at Home and Globally}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2010}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Policy-Briefing-12.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }