The world's economic spotlight turns to Africa as Johannesburg prepares to host the G20 summit on November 22 and 23, 2025. This marks the first time the prestigious gathering of global economic leaders is held on African soil, with South Africa holding the rotating presidency.
A Historic First for the Continent
Founded in 1999, the Group of 20 comprises 19 countries and two regional bodies - the European Union and the African Union. With South Africa at the helm this year, the summit breaks new ground by being hosted in Africa for the very first time. These member nations collectively represent 85 percent of global GDP and approximately two-thirds of the world's population.
South Africa stands as the sole African member state, though the African Union gained admission as a bloc in 2023, strengthening the continent's voice in global economic discussions.
South Africa's Ambitious Agenda
Under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability", Pretoria has outlined clear priorities for its presidency. These include strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income nations, financing a just energy transition, and leveraging critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Given South Africa's position as the world's most unequal country according to World Bank rankings, President Cyril Ramaphosa commissioned an expert team led by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz to analyze global wealth inequality. Their findings revealed an "inequality emergency" affecting 2.3 billion hungry people worldwide, prompting calls for an intergovernmental panel to address this critical issue.
Challenges and Global Dynamics
The summit faces significant headwinds following US President Donald Trump's announcement that no American officials would attend, describing South Africa's presidency as a "total disgrace." Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed 30 percent tariffs on South Africa - the highest in sub-Saharan Africa - and made controversial claims about "white genocide."
Despite this boycott, Pretoria remains optimistic about delivering a successful summit that addresses pressing global challenges.
The event will take place at Johannesburg's Nasrec Expo Centre, South Africa's largest purpose-built conference venue. Situated near the historic Soweto township, the location symbolizes post-apartheid spatial integration. However, the summit has also highlighted Johannesburg's infrastructure challenges, prompting President Ramaphosa to demand improvements earlier this year. The African Development Bank subsequently approved a $139 million loan for crucial upgrades to the city that now hosts approximately six million residents.
This summit concludes a cycle of Global South presidencies, with South Africa passing the baton to the United States. President Trump has indicated plans to significantly scale back the G20 platform and questioned whether South Africa should remain in the group, raising important questions about the forum's future direction as it navigates complex global economic landscapes.
