South Africa is officially running the world – well, sort of. As of December 2024, we hold the presidency of the G20, making us the first African country to do so. Big deal, right? Absolutely! The plan is to bring African and Global South issues to the front – think debt relief, climate change, and sustainable development. President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that SA will use this platform to push for “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”
Wait, what exactly is the G20?
The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum of the world’s largest economies – 19 countries plus the European Union (EU) and, as of last year, the African Union (AU). Together, they represent 85% of global GDP, over 75% of international trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population. Originally created in 1999 to deal with global financial stability, the G20 has expanded its focus to include climate change, energy security, trade, and sustainable development.
Each year, a different country takes the lead, setting the agenda and hosting the annual G20 Summit, where world leaders come together to (hopefully) solve the world’s biggest problems. SA’s presidency will culminate in Johannesburg in November 2025, where we’ll see if we can get global heavyweights to take Africa’s priorities seriously.
So, how’s it going so far?
Well… the first major G20 event under SA’s leadership – the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Cape Town yesterday – has been less of a full house and more of a ghost town. Key figures, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato, didn’t show up. And they’re not alone – finance ministers from India, China, and Canada also seem to have other plans. Awkward.
Why the cold shoulder? Analysts say growing geopolitical tensions and internal divisions within the G20 are making global economic coordination… well, not a vibe.
The Trump Problem: Is the US ghosting South Africa?
There’s also the looming question of Donald Trump, who is back in the White House and bringing his usual unpredictability. His administration has already signalled a shift in US-Africa relations, and his absence from the G20 later this year could be a major snub.
Trump is not a fan of multilateral institutions like the G20. In his first presidency, he pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement, criticised global trade deals, and often skipped key global summits, a habit he seems to be repeating upon his return to office. While he hasn’t outright declared his intention to skip the G20 Summit in Johannesburg this November, his administration’s recent behaviour suggests he might send a low-level official in his place – a move that would be seen as a diplomatic snub. His return could mean trouble for SA’s presidency, especially as we push issues like climate funding and debt relief for Africa – topics Trump isn’t exactly passionate about.
To make things worse, some US lawmakers want SA booted from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – a crucial trade deal that gives SA duty-free access to US markets. Their argument? SA has gotten too close to Russia and China, particularly after allowing a sanctioned Russian vessel to dock in Cape Town in 2022 and hosting military drills with China and Russia. Yet, ironically, Trump’s own administration is now warming up to Russia – the same country they punished SA for engaging with.
In a recent move, US diplomats are set to meet their Russian counterparts today in Istanbul to discuss normalising diplomatic relations, a significant shift from previous US efforts to isolate Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
Trump’s America First approach means he may be less inclined to support African economies – or even attend the G20 in Johannesburg at all. Reminder: his Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State have already skipped recent G20 events, and experts say Trump might send a low-level official in his place for the main summit.
But SA isn’t backing down. This week’s discussions are tackling global economic stability, sustainable finance, and infrastructure development – all critical for Africa’s future. The real test? Whether SA can get the world’s biggest economies to pay attention before we host the grand finale – the G20 Summit in Johannesburg this November.
Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation.
