This weekend in Johannesburg, the G20 summit made waves 🌍✨. Leaders from 19 nations adopted a 122-point declaration to strengthen multilateralism and boost the Global South’s role—despite the United States’ boycott. 🤷♂️
South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola hailed the "G20 South Africa Summit: Leaders’ Declaration" as a game changer. He said it will "revolutionize how the Global South participates and plays in the global economy."
The declaration’s key pillars include:
- Strengthening multilateral cooperation 🤝
- Backing inclusive growth for developing countries 🌱
- Pushing sustainable development goals 💡
Although all G20 members signed on, the US skipped the summit and complained it won’t accept any consensus without its say-so. Tensions have been rising all year: Washington froze aid over South Africa’s Expropriation Act, expelled Pretoria’s ambassador, and imposed a 30% tariff on local goods.
Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri warned, "We cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic," while Vincent Magwenya noted that an agreed declaration shows the world still believes in cooperation.
Frank Lekaba, a senior lecturer at Wits University, called the outcome a win for Africa, reinforcing the G20’s legitimacy under South Africa’s first-ever African presidency (Dec 2024–Nov 2025).
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said only a US envoy will attend the handover ceremony on December 1, 2025—something Magwenya called "a breach of protocol" that South Africa will not accept.
As Lamola put it, "No one will steal that spotlight. The African continent has made it." 🔥
Reference(s):
G20 Johannesburg summit adopts declaration despite U.S. boycott
cgtn.com
