South Africa takes over leadership of G20 from Brazil

November 19, 2024 8:40 pm

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula with Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president at G20 summit

South Africa has taken over the leadership of the G20 during a handover ceremony at the Rio de Janeiro summit in Brazil.

Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva handed over the reins of leadership to Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, on Tuesday.

South Africa is the only African country in the G20 and will be the host of the 2025 summit.

“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 told his counterparts at the summit.

The South African president said his administration would prioritise inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, employment, and inequality.

“The second priority is food security,” Ramaphosa added. “The third priority is artificial intelligence and innovation for sustainable development.”

“As South Africa, we undertake to advance the work of the G20 towards achieving greater global economic growth and sustainable development. We will work to ensure that no one is left behind.”

Ramaphosa said he is looking forward to welcoming global leaders to South Africa next year.

WHO IS IN THE G20?

The G20, originally a collection of 20 of the world’s largest economies, was conceived as a bloc that would bring the most important industrialized and developing economies together to discuss international economic and financial stability.

Since 2008, the G20’s annual summit has evolved into a major forum for discussing economics as well as other pressing global issues.

Bilateral meetings on the summit’s sidelines have occasionally led to major international agreements.

The forum comprises 19 countries, the European Union (EU) and, as of 2023, the African Union (AU).

Member countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States.

Spain is invited as a permanent guest.