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Jevans Nyabiage

The G20 summit in Johannesburg delivered major wins for African countries on debt, climate and critical minerals processing, but the progress was undercut by an unprecedented US boycott.
The United States will host the event next year when it takes over the rotating Group of 20 presidency. But when the summit ended on Sunday, there was no US leader present for the ceremonial handover.
With the US a no-show, China and its allies drove the consensus on a Global South agenda that has dominated G20 summits since 2022.
The priorities included a bigger say for developing countries in international institutions, a message Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent when he addressed the leaders on Saturday.
He urged the G20 community to “accelerate the reform of institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization”.
As a sign of China’s commitment, Li reaffirmed Beijing’s support for debt relief for developing countries.
He also rejected “unilateralism and protectionism”, saying that global unity was essential for overcoming economic headwinds and addressing stagnation and turbulence.
In what was seen as a veiled reference to the US, Li observed that the world economy was facing many obstacles, with “unilateralism and protectionism rampant, and various trade restrictions and confrontations increasing”.


To counter the trends, Li urged the G20 to reaffirm its commitment to a cooperative, open global economy, calling for members to “adhere to the principle of working together in solidarity, firmly uphold free trade, and build an open world economy”.
Aside from the US boycott, Africa’s first G20 summit demonstrated internal unity – with all participants except Argentina endorsing the summit declaration.
Saturday’s 122-point Johannesburg Declaration was widely hailed as a major victory for South Africa, which pushed through its agenda to help African countries deal with debt crises, finance climate initiatives, and process minerals.
G20 members agreed to support efforts by low- and middle-income countries, especially those in Africa, to address debt vulnerabilities by strengthening the implementation of the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments.
Countries such as Zambia, Ethiopia, Ghana and Chad had applied for debt relief under the common framework but protracted negotiations among official creditors and a failure to secure comparable relief from private lenders have led to significant delays.
Furthermore, the G20 members agreed to establish the G20 Critical Minerals Framework to enable producer countries such as those in Africa to secure the maximum benefit and value retention by promoting local processing of minerals at the source.
“This will boost the Global South, and in particular, the African continent that has 30 per cent of the minerals needed for artificial intelligence, new technologies and greener economies,” South Africa’s international relations and cooperation minister, Ronald Lamola, said.
The G20 also agreed to urgently mobilise finance for a just energy transition in developing economies.
However, Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno declined to endorse the declaration, raising concerns over discrepancies in the text regarding certain geopolitical issues, particularly on the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, as well as language on gender equality.
“We are deeply concerned with how certain geopolitical issues are framed in the documents,” he said.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged Argentina’s objection, but noted that it would not block the declaration’s adoption by the participating members.
At the closing ceremony on Sunday, Ramaphosa said South Africa had used its presidency of the group to “place the priorities of Africa and the Global South firmly at the heart of the G20 agenda, building on the development agenda of previous presidencies.
“In Indonesia, India, and Brazil, we have prioritised the issues that matter most to developing economies,” he added, referring to the G20 chair countries from 2022.
Earlier, Ramaphosa rejected Washington’s offer to send its chargé d’affaires, the second-in-command at the US embassy in Pretoria, for the G20 host handover.

The US boycotted the Johannesburg summit over what President Donald Trump described as the “white genocide” of Afrikaners, a claim strongly denied by the South African government.
The US also accuses South Africa of engaging in unfair trade practices and pursuing foreign policies deemed detrimental to American interests.
Lamola said the rank of chargé d’affaires was inappropriate for a leader-level event.
“This is a leaders’ summit, involving heads of state, and the heads of state have designated appropriate officials who are engaging on this platform,” Lamola said.
Hence, he said the handover must happen at the head of state level or, at the very least, be received by a minister who is properly designated by the US president.
The handover will now take place in a separate, lower-key ceremony after the summit.
The US had also imposed a 30 per cent reciprocal tariff on South African exports such as agricultural produce, car components, steel and aluminium under Trump’s broader trade policy.
In contrast, Beijing has removed all tariffs for products entering the massive Chinese market from every African country except eSwatini, which maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.


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South Africa

G20 South Africa summit sees China, allies drive agenda as US stays away

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged the G20 community to speed up the reform of global financial institutions, and reaffirmed Beijing’s support for debt relief for developing countries while rejecting “unilateralism and protectionism”. Photo: Handout

G20 leaders hold hands as they pose for a “family photo” in Johannesburg on November 22. Photo: AFP

At G20, China pushes multilateralism, solidarity and free trade as US boycotts summit

Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses the first session of the 20th G20 summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

US boycott and China-Japan rift loom large as leaders gather for G20 summit

Leaders are gathering in Johannesburg for the Group of 20 summit this weekend. Photo: AFP

Beijing has said Premier Li Qiang will not meet the Japanese leader at the G20. Photo: AP

Huge security operation in place for Africa’s first G20 summit

Members of the South African Presidential Protection Service salute during the Integrated Law Enforcement parade near the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg. Photo: AFP

Members of the South African Police Service K-9 unit. Photo: AFP

A billboard in Johannesburg showing G20 leaders. Photo: AFP

Authorities in Johannesburg have embarked on a major clear-up of streets. Photo: Reuters

White House denies reversing G20 boycott, hits out at South African president

Banners displaying the faces of various G20 leaders displayed along a Johannesburg freeway. Photo: AP

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday. Photo: AP

Banners of various G20 leaders displayed along a Johannesburg freeway. Photo: AP

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday. Photo: EPA

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in May. Photo: AP

G20 South Africa summit wins strong China backing amid first-ever US boycott

Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa,  delivers the opening speech as he chairs the G20 summit  plenary session, in Johannesburg on November 22. Photo: AFP

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomes Chinese Premier Li Qiang to the G20 summit. Photo: EPA

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang (far left) is seated next to French President Emmanuel Macron during a plenary session of the G20 summit in Johannesburg on November 22. Photo: AFP

Leaders and delegates pose for a family photo on the first day of the G20 summit in South Africa. Photo: EPA

News

China

Diplomacy

All participants but one endorse Johannesburg Declaration focusing on African debt crises, climate initiatives and critical minerals


All participants but one endorse Johannesburg Declaration focusing on African debt crises, climate initiatives and critical minerals.


Li Qiang

Cyril Ramaphosa

World Bank Group

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

G20 South Africa summit sees China, allies drive agenda as US stays away

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}All participants but one endorse Johannesburg Declaration focusing on African debt crises, climate initiatives and critical minerals

All participants but one endorse Johannesburg Declaration focusing on African debt crises, climate initiatives and critical minerals