IMG-LOGO

G20 Johannesburg 2025: Africa’s Long-Overdue Turn on The Global Stage

by Ajinde Oluwashakin - 20 September, 2025, 12:00 507 Views 0 Comment

The G20 code represents the (group of twenty) developed nations in the world. It was born in 1999 out of the womb of the group of seven (G7) most developed nations globally. It came into being to foster dialogue and cooperation on economic and financial matters, among themselves and the rest of the world. The G20, as a global development forum, represents over 85 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP). It comprises 19 countries and two continental organisations, the European Union and the African Union, meeting regularly to discuss issues relating to international financial stability, trade, climate change, and sustainable development, among other global issues. In all of these issues, Africa’s development is at its lowest ebb, which needs to be addressed for its rightful place on the global stage. India held the G20 Presidency, from 1 December 2022-30 November 2023. Brazil held the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2023-30 November 2024. South Africa took its turn of the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024-November 2025. The annual summit will be held from 22—23 November 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

G20 Johannesburg 2025

The 2025 G20 Conference going to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, is significant in certain respects. First, South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 Forum is anchored on the Theme: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability. These concepts underpin the strategic focus for the Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG),[1] which underscores South Africa’s determination to foster inclusive and sustainable energy transitions, in the face of the ravaging impact of climate change. Second, South Africa is further determined to use its G20 Presidency to galvanise support for developing economies in Africa, in particular, and the Global South in general. This is building on the relenting efforts and achievements of the Indonesian, Indian and Brazilian Presidencies to push the development agenda forward for developing countries. And, third, this year marks the first time that an African country will hold the G20 Presidency. This is quite significant as South Africa is the only African country within the G20 member-states.  This has informedSouth Africa’s choice of the theme alluded to, which reflects its strategic foreign policy thrust: National Interests, African Agenda, South-South Cooperation and Multilateralism.[2]

‘Africa’s Long-Overdue Turn on The Global Stage’

The G20 Presidency oscillates yearly within member-states, and is selected from a different regional grouping of countries. The 19 member-states (aside from EU and AU, as bloc members) are categorised into five groups, composed of a maximum of four countries in each group.[3] Most of the groups are categorised on a regional basis; that is, countries from the same region are put together in the same group. Only Group 1 (Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United States) and Group 2 (India, Russia, South Africa and Türkiye) do not follow this pattern. Group 3 is: Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico; Group 4 is: France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom; and Group 5 is: China, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The EU and the AU are not so grouped.

Annually, a country from a different group assumes the G20 Presidency. The countries in a group are each equally entitled to take on the Presidency when it is ‘their group’s turn.’[4] As it has turned out this year (2025), South Africa (from Group 2) assumes the G20 Presidency. Then, the question is: Does this underscore ‘Africa’s turn’ on the global stage? Hardly. Africa’s overdue turn on the global stage runs deeper. It is about the reality of Africa’s level of development, compared with other regions of the world.

Every continent is geographically located in the region where they are. Differentially, the world is further structured into developmental status: First World (Highly Developed), Second World (Developed), and the Third World (Developing). In this categorisation, Africa is the least developed in the developing world. Historically, Africa has had the unfortunate conditioning of having passed through slavery, colonialism, and neocolonialism. Thus, Africa has long remained underdeveloped, and the people of Africa remain impoverished and dependent on the developed world.

Given this realisation of Africa’s place on the global stage, as the least developed and most impoverished in the world, African leaders thought it wise to create or construct an Africa that would not continue to be subservient to other regions and nations. The nature and the kind of Africa being constructed is contained in the African Union Agenda 2063 document: Our Aspirations for the Africa We Want.”[5]The AU Agenda 2063 seeks to deliver on a set of 7 Aspirations and 20 Goals, which, if achieved, will move Africa closer to achieving its vision for the year 2063. The 7 Aspirations reflect Africans’ desire for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizons, where the full potential of its people—men, women and youth– are realised, and with freedom from fear, disease and want.

It is noteworthy that the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, has as its theme: Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability. In particular for Africa, the developed world needs to demonstrate greater solidarity with African states more than ever before, in the ever-interconnected world. Equality may not be any difficulty issue among the developed nations. However, it is commendable that the G20 leaders recognise all ‘individuals and nations, regardless of their economic status, gender, race, geographic location or any other characteristic’.[6] More importantly, in practical terms, Africa countries require equal partnership in their development. Also, the leaders affirm sustainability, which will be discussed extensively in Johannesburg, and will involve addressing the needs of the present without mortgaging the future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability is the comprehensive embrace of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).  The SDGs comprise 17 main elements, which include efforts to improve health and education, reduce inequality, climate action, and economic development,[7] which are of major concerns for African countries. With concerted efforts of the G20, even beyond Johannesburg 2025, Africa’s development will be accelerated to attain an enviable status on the global stage.

 Conclusion

South Africa holds the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, with the summit in Johannesburg, 22-23 November 2025. Member-states comprise the following: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United States; the European Union and African Union. Given the long parlous state of Africa’s development, the G20’s support the continent is crucial in several development areas. This effort would require equal partnership with the other developed countries, for Africa to be recognised on the global stage.

References:

[1] Sherpa Track (February 2025). “G20 South Africa 2025: Concept Note–Energy Transitions Working Group”.https://g20.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Annexure-C-Concept-Note-2025-South-African-ETWG_Final-Version-04.pdf. Accessed September 3, 2025.

[2]“G20 Presidency” https://g20.org/g20-south-africa/g20-presidency/. Accessed September 3, 2025.

[3]“G20: Overview”https://g20.org/about-g20/overview/. Accessed September 2, 2025.

[4]  “G20: Overview”

[5] “Agenda 2063 Aspirations” (https://au.int/en/agenda2063/aspirations, accessed September 2, 2025).

[6]Leaders’ Summit (2025). https://sdg.iisd.org/events/g20-leaders-summit-2025/. Accessed September 1,2025.

[7]“THE 17 GOALS” https://sdgs.un.org/goals. Accessed September 2, 2025.

Ajinde Oluwashakin
Author is an Associate Professor of International Relations, Faculty member, Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. Specialised areas of interest include Middle East geopolitics, Foreign Policy, and Africa’s Development.
Tags:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *