India will host the G20 summit on September 9 and 10, 2023. (Photo: ANI)

The move would give the African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, the same status as the European Union - the only regional bloc with a full membership currently - up from its current designation of "invited international organization".

An AU official told Reuters that the group was being made a permanent member.

A top government official from South Africa, which is a G20 member, said that the language for the induction of AU into the G20 bloc was still being discussed but it could be firmed up by Friday.