- South Africa becomes the first African nation to lead the G20, with President Cyril Ramaphosa vowing to amplify the priorities of Africa and the Global South
- Under Ramaphosa’s leadership, South Africa’s G20 presidency will focus on inclusive economic growth, food security, and harnessing AI for sustainable development
- South Africa’s presidency signals greater African influence in global policy, as Ramaphosa champions the continent’s industrialization, employment, and equality efforts.
South Africa has made history by becoming the first African nation to assume the presidency of the G20, a prominent forum for the world’s largest economies.
The formal handover took place on Tuesday, November 19, at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took over the leadership from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
During the ceremony, Ramaphosa expressed his commitment to amplifying the development priorities of the African continent and the Global South throughout his presidency.
“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,” he declared.
Ramaphosa outlined three key areas of focus for South Africa’s G20 presidency: fostering inclusive economic growth, tackling food security, and harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence and innovation for sustainable development. He emphasized that while striving for global economic growth, the focus would be on ensuring that no one is left behind.
Currently, South Africa is the sole African member of the G20, which comprises 19 countries and the European Union, representing the world’s largest economies.
However, the African Union joined the forum in 2023, signaling a growing global recognition of Africa’s role in shaping international policy.
Ramaphosa’s presidency marks a pivotal moment for the continent, as he aims to champion Africa’s development, industrialisation, employment, and the reduction of inequality, while also driving discussions on critical global issues such as climate change, global health, and sustainable economic policies.
“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 concluded, emphasising his commitment to a more inclusive and equitable global future.
Nigeria at 64: 16 West African countries and their Independence dates
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal, colonised the West African countries.
As Nigeria celebrated its 64th year of independence, TheRadar compiled a list of the West African countries and their independence dates.
