G20 in Johannesburg: Who’s Attending, Who’s Staying Away — and What’s at Stake

World leaders are converging on Johannesburg this weekend for the G20 leaders’ summit — the first time the meeting has been hosted in an African country. About 42 countries and organisations are expected to be represented at the two-day summit (22–23 November) at the Nasrec Expo Centre, but the absence of the United States under President Donald Trump has dominated headlines.

Attendance and notable absences

South African officials say around 42 delegations will attend. Washington, a founding G20 member, announced it would not send the US president, and the White House later confirmed no senior US official would take part in the main sessions. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he will symbolically hand over the G20 presidency to an empty chair if necessary; US participation for the ceremonial handover remains uncertain, with acting US ambassador Marc D. Dillard named as a possible attendee.

Other leaders who are not attending in person include China’s President Xi Jinping (represented by Premier Li Qiang), Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (represented by Maxim Oreshkin), Argentina’s President Javier Milei (represented by his foreign minister), Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (who cancelled for security reasons) and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum (due to domestic commitments). Many other countries will be represented by senior officials rather than heads of state.

Who is expected in person

• Li Qiang (China, Premier)
• Emmanuel Macron (France, President)
• Narendra Modi (India, Prime Minister)
• Friedrich Merz (Germany, Chancellor)
• Keir Starmer (United Kingdom, Prime Minister)
• Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil, President)
• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Türkiye, President)
• Giorgia Meloni (Italy, Prime Minister)
• Sanae Takaichi (Japan, Prime Minister)
• Anthony Albanese (Australia, Prime Minister)
• Senior representatives from the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations

Context and agenda

The G20 began in 1999 as a forum for major economies and rose to central global importance after the 2008 financial crisis. Together the G20 members and the EU account for roughly 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. South Africa assumed the G20 presidency in November 2024 and will hand it to the United States on 30 November 2025.

Pretoria has used its presidency to highlight Global South priorities: narrowing global economic inequality, expanding development finance for vulnerable countries, scaling up climate-disaster resilience and response, increasing climate finance flows from richer to poorer nations, and pursuing fairer debt restructuring through international financial institutions and bilateral creditors. South Africa also wants to ensure local communities and resource-rich countries are fairly treated amid global competition for critical minerals.

Security, protests and local concerns

Johannesburg has been visibly preparing all week: workers have cleaned streets and erected colourful G20 signage along routes from OR Tambo International Airport. At least 3,500 extra police officers have been deployed and the military placed on standby to protect delegates and the venue.

The summit has sparked domestic criticism and multiple planned demonstrations. Campaigns range from climate and inequality activists staging an alternative summit to women’s rights groups calling for a national shutdown to highlight gender-based violence. One high-profile protest urged participants to wear black and observe a 15-minute midday lie-down to mourn victims of femicide. Other demonstrations include rallies by trade unions and groups focused on immigration and minority grievances. South Africa’s unemployment rate — around 31% — and everyday social challenges have fuelled much of the unrest.

Diplomacy under the spotlight

President Trump has amplified his objections to South Africa’s role, citing disputed claims about the treatment of white South Africans after Pretoria passed a law intended to address historic disparities in land ownership. The US announcement not to attend — and earlier threats to cut aid — has led South African leaders to play down the diplomatic impact and stress that the success of the presidency will be judged by outcomes that benefit the Global South, not by attendance alone.

“The credibility of the presidency will be measured not by the presence of any one country, but by whether the agenda set in the interests of the Global South is carried through,” said Gilad Isaacs, executive director of the Institute for Economic Justice.

What to watch

• Whether leaders reach concrete commitments on climate finance, disaster resilience and debt relief.
• How South Africa navigates high-profile absences and domestic protests while preserving the summit’s focus.
• Any last-minute changes to delegation levels, especially from the United States and other major players.

The Johannesburg summit will test South Africa’s diplomatic standing and offer a prominent stage for Global South concerns even as intense scrutiny, protests and uneven attendance complicate the picture.