G20's First Summit in Africa: Five Key Takeaways from Johannesburg

Five things to know about the G20's first summit in Africa

World leaders from the Group of 20 (G20) will meet in Johannesburg on November 22–23 for the first-ever summit held on African soil, with South Africa holding the rotating presidency. The meeting comes amid heightened global tensions and strained relations between Pretoria and Washington.

1. First time in Africa

Established in 1999, the G20 brings together 19 countries plus two regional organisations: the European Union and, since 2023, the African Union (AU). With South Africa as president this year, the leaders' summit is taking place in Africa for the first time. G20 members account for roughly 85% of global GDP and about two-thirds of the world’s population. South Africa remains the only individual African nation in the G20, though AU representation broadened the continent’s voice in 2023.

2. Presidency priorities: "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability"

Pretoria’s agenda emphasises strengthening disaster resilience, promoting debt sustainability for low-income countries, financing a just energy transition, and leveraging critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development. South Africa, confronting stark domestic inequality, commissioned an expert panel led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz to analyse global wealth disparities. The panel urged the creation of an intergovernmental body to address what it described as an "inequality emergency," noting that roughly 2.3 billion people face hunger worldwide.

3. A US boycott and its implications

US President Donald Trump announced that no US officials would attend the summit, calling South Africa’s presidency "a total disgrace." Since returning to the White House in January, he has taken a confrontational stance toward South Africa on multiple fronts, including advancing widely disputed claims of a "white genocide" and imposing 30% tariffs—the highest rate applied to any economy in sub-Saharan Africa. Washington’s absence risks undermining momentum behind some South African priorities, but Pretoria says it remains committed to delivering a successful meeting.

4. Johannesburg and the Nasrec venue

The leaders’ sessions will be held at the Nasrec Expo Centre, South Africa’s largest purpose-built conference venue, located on the edge of Soweto and chosen as a symbol of post-apartheid spatial integration. The summit has shone a spotlight on Johannesburg’s contrasts: a city born of a late-19th-century gold rush, home to about six million people and Africa’s "richest square mile," yet plagued by crumbling infrastructure, service shortfalls and governance challenges. President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly demanded improvements earlier this year, and the African Development Bank approved a $139 million loan in July for upgrades.

5. End of a "Global South" run

After South Africa, the G20 presidency returns to the United States, ending a sequence of presidencies held by "Global South" nations (Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa). President Trump has signalled plans to narrow the platform’s scope, and has publicly questioned South Africa’s place in the G20, feeding debate over the group’s future composition and agenda. Despite these tensions, South Africa aims to use the summit to elevate issues of inequality, sustainability and development.

Bottom line: The Johannesburg summit is historic for being the first on African soil and will test whether a South African presidency can translate high-profile priorities—from inequality and debt relief to a just energy transition—into tangible international commitments amid diplomatic rifts.