South Africa's Ramaphosa calls U.S. absence from first Africa-hosted G20 Summit 'regrettable'
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed regret over the United States' decision not to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, held under South Africa’s presidency.
The United States is a founding member of the G20 and is scheduled to take over the presidency in 2026.
President Ramaphosa described the U.S. absence at the first G20 meeting to take place on African soil as “regrettable” and criticised the reasons provided by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Ramaphosa, Trump cited claims that white Afrikaners were being violently persecuted in South Africa as the basis for the decision not to send a government delegation to the summit. South Africa has dismissed the allegations as “blatant misinformation”.
"It is even more unfortunate that the reasons the US gave for its non-participation were based on baseless and false allegations that South Africa is perpetrating genocide against Afrikaners and the confiscation of land from white people," President Ramaphosa said.
Speaking to the nation on Sunday evening, November 30, Ramaphosa stated that the justification provided by the U.S. administration for not attending the summit was based on false information. He confirmed that all other G20 members participated in related meetings throughout the year, with the United States being the only country absent.
Despite ongoing tensions, including U.S. tariffs on South African goods that currently stand at 30%—the highest imposed on any African country—President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s goodwill toward the American people.
"We offer the people of the United States nothing but goodwill and friendship," he said.
In response to Trump’s claim that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 Summit in the United States, President Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s founding role in the G20.
"We must make it clear that South Africa is one of the founding members of the G20, and South Africa is therefore a member of the G20 in its own name and right. We will continue to participate as a full, active and constructive member of the G20," he said.
The diplomatic rift follows a meeting in May at the Oval Office, where Trump accused the South African government of committing “genocide” against white farmers, referencing a video that was later shown to feature opposition figures rather than state officials.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
