South Africa Becomes First African Nation to Lead G20 Presidency
By Okafor Joseph Afam
November 20, 2024
In a historic moment for Africa, South Africa has officially assumed the presidency of the G20, the influential group of the world’s largest economies. The leadership handover took place on Tuesday during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva passing the torch to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Africa becomes the first African nation to take the helm of the G20, a significant milestone that underscores the growing influence of the Global South in global economic discussions.
In his inaugural address, President Ramaphosa pledged to prioritize Africa’s development and advocate for the interests of the Global South throughout his tenure. “We will use this moment to bring the development priorities of the African continent and the Global South more firmly onto the agenda of the G20,” Ramaphosa stated.
He outlined three key areas of focus for South Africa’s presidency:
- Promoting Inclusive Economic Growth
- Addressing Food Security
- Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Innovation for Sustainable Development
Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa would work towards fostering greater global economic growth while ensuring that no one is left behind, especially the most vulnerable nations.
As the only African member of the G20, South Africa is poised to champion issues such as industrialization, employment, and reducing inequality, while also spearheading critical global discussions on sustainable development.
“We undertake to advance the work of the G20 towards achieving greater global economic growth and sustainable development,” Ramaphosa said. “We will work to ensure that no one is left behind.”
The summit’s joint declaration, issued the night before, included a range of global concerns, from a call for a global pact to combat hunger to more aid for Gaza and efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The statement also highlighted the need for a global tax on billionaires and advocated for reforms to expand the U.N. Security Council beyond its current five permanent members. However, the document was short on specifics, and while it received broad endorsement, full unanimity was not achieved.
As the first African nation to lead the G20, South Africa’s presidency is seen as a historic opportunity to elevate the voices of emerging economies and push for a more equitable global economic order.
