The G20 arrives in Africa: Johannesburg at the center of the geopolitical conflict and the challenges of development and sustainability.
For the first time, the G20 arrives on the African continent: amid prominent absences, geopolitical tensions, and major global challenges, Johannesburg becomes the center of a new dialogue between the North and the South of the world.
The G20 arrives in Africa: Johannesburg at the center of the geopolitical conflict and the challenges of development and sustainability.
On November 22 and 23, 2025, Johannesburg, the beating heart of the South African economy, will host a summit destined to make history: the first time the G20 will meet on the African continent. This event goes far beyond its symbolic significance and comes at a critical juncture for the global economy, geopolitical balances, and the fight against inequality.
South Africa has, in fact, chosen a very clear motto: “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”It means putting on the table, before the great powers, issues that for the African continent are not just theory, but everyday life: poverty, debt, climate change, social inequalities, the energy and digital transition risk leaving entire regions of the planet behind.
A G20 in a fragile world
The context in which this G20 is meeting is far from peaceful. The global economy is slowing, inflation remains high, geopolitical tensions are skyrocketing—just think of the war in Ukraine—and the climate crisis is making extreme events and natural disasters increasingly frequent. Added to this are growing inequalities, both between countries and within individual societies.
Within this scenario, hosting the G20 in Africa takes on a precise meaning: recognizing that we cannot talk about the future of the planet without giving voice to those who, until yesterday, were mainly described as "problem areas" and not as full-fledged political partners. This is also why theAfrican Union It has entered the G20 format on a permanent basis, alongside the European Union.
Who's here, who's missing, and why it matters
Around the table in Johannesburg will be representatives of the countries that, combined, generate approximately 80% of the world's GDP and are home to 60% of the planet's population. The group typically comprises the major Western powers, the Asian giants (China, India, Japan), Russia, Brazil, South Africa, and other key players such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, and Australia.
What is causing discussion this year, however, are the absentees of this edition. For the first time since the birth of the G20, the leaders of United States, China and Russia they do not participate at the same time.
In the United States, Donald Trump he decided not only not to show up, but to do not send any representativeHe called it “an absolute disgrace” that the summit was being held in South Africa, accusing the country of persecuting white Afrikaners, who were “killed, massacred, and illegally deprived of their lands and farms,” according to his narrative.
From Russia, Vladimir Putin He's not leaving: he has an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the war in Ukraine, and South Africa—being a member of the ICC—would theoretically have to arrest him if he set foot on its soil. Moscow will be represented by its economic advisor. Maxim Oreshkin.
China, finally, sends to Johannesburg not the president Xi Jinping, but the prime minister li qiang, as often happens when Beijing wants to maintain a slightly lower profile without, however, completely deserting the table.
The South African Agenda: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability
Despite the absences, South Africa has built an ambitious agenda. The discussions are organized in three major sessions, which are also a sort of political manifesto: “inclusive and sustainable economic growth that leaves no one behind”, “a resilient world – the G20 contribution” and “a fair and just future for all.”
Behind these formulas there are some very concrete issues. First of all, the crux of the global debt, particularly that of African countries, which often find themselves trapped in a spiral of interests and conditions that prevent serious investments in health, education, and infrastructure.
Then the development finance, that is, all those instruments – from the role of multilateral banks to reforms of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank – designed to mobilize resources on a large scale.
Other topics are the food systems, Food safety and the problem of hunger, far from being resolved; there is the question of decent work in a constantly evolving economy; climate change and there is also the great new frontier ofartificial intelligence, which promises revolutions, but brings with it the risk of new inequalities.
South Africa, in the person of the President Cyril Ramaphosa, has already declared that he intends to put Africa's development at the top of the summit agenda. Not surprisingly: according to the World Bank, South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, and this theme is a sensitive issue both internally and globally.
The European Union: sustainable and multilateral development
In this framework, theEuropean Union arrives in Johannesburg with a relatively united position. Representing it are the President of the European Council António Costa and the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
For Brussels, the Sustainable Development It's not just a buzzword: it's a strategic priority, and for years the EU has been claiming its leadership role in financing global development programs.
On the trade front, the EU recalls that it is the main trading partner of 66 countries, which represent more than half of the world's GDP. It does not limit itself to defending free trade, but insists on a model of open, rules-based trade, which also includes environmental and social standards. In other words, Brussels is trying to use its economic clout to steer globalization toward more sustainable forms.
Italy and the Mattei Plan: Africa at the Center
La Italian presence In Johannesburg, she is very active. The Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will participate in all the working sessions and brings with him two great "flags": the Italian presidency of the G7 and Mattei plan for Africa.
The Mattei Plan is presented as a sort of new pact between Europe and Africa, based not only on aid, but on investments, infrastructure, energy, training and shared development. At the G20, Meloni intends to reiterate two aspects in particular: African debt swap in investments, which requires creditor countries to give up part of the credit in exchange for concrete development projects in debtor countries and the willingness to bring the first concrete projects already at the beginning of the year, as bilateral negotiations with the countries concerned have already started.
Alongside the issue of debt, there is that of Food safety. Meloni insists on the link between hunger, instability and conflict: where food and prospects are lacking, forced migration, internal tensions and the attraction of armed or illegal actors increase.
On the level of global governance, Italy supports the need to reform the UN Security Council to make it more representative, but opposes the idea of creating new permanent seats: he would prefer seats temporary rotating workers, distributed by geographical area, to avoid new crystallizations of power.
Finally, two key areas: artificial intelligence e critical minerals. Meloni will reiterate that AI must develop within clear ethical principles and "with people at the center", avoiding becoming a tool that amplifies inequalities. On critical minerals, attention goes to supply chains, which should be safe, but also more balanced, so as not to reproduce mechanisms of exploitation in producing countries.
Johannesburg under lockdown: protests, army, and shop windows
A summit like this, in a country marked by strong social tensions, could only have a huge security apparatus. The South African government has deployed 3.500 more police officers, put the army on alert and organized a real preparatory parade, with helicopters, dog units and motorcyclists, all under the coordination of the Natjoints, the structure that brings together police, military and secret services for the most sensitive events.
The G20 also brings with it, in fact, the protestParades and demonstrations by groups are planned. anti-capitalists; climate activists; movements for the women's rights; groups anti-migrants e organizations that They challenge affirmative action policies that benefit black people.
The organization Women for Change He sent a strong message: he proposed a national strike to denounce the extremely high rate of femicide in South Africa, recalling that, as long as the country "continues to bury a woman every 2,5 hours," talking about progress at the G20 risks appearing hypocritical.
Meanwhile, Johannesburg has launched a major “cosmetic operation”: extraordinary cleaning, quick repairs, and interventions in symbolic neighborhoods like Soweto, where Ramaphosa himself appeared in overalls.
Many citizens, however, remain sceptical: they fear that the G20 is above all a international showcase, while structural problems – from blackouts to water, from potholes to inequalities – remain unresolved on a daily basis.
A test bed for Africa and the world
Ultimately, the G20 in Johannesburg is much more than a major diplomatic event. It is a test for Africa, which wants to move beyond being merely a recipient of aid and become a leader in proposals; for Europe and Italy, which are seeking to build a new type of relationship with the continent; and for the multilateral system in general, which must demonstrate its ability to reconcile divergent interests within a minimal framework of shared rules.
If they come out of this summit concrete commitments on debt, sustainable development, food security, energy transition, combating inequality, and regulating artificial intelligence, Johannesburg will be remembered as the beginning of a new era.
If, however, cross-vetoes, absences, and mistrust prevail, the image that will remain is of a world that observes, measures, and criticizes itself, but struggles to build common solutions—just as time, on the climate and social fronts, is running ever faster.
Meanwhile, we are already looking forward to the next appointment: the Miami Summit in December 2026, which will be hosted by the United States under the same administration that is now abandoning Johannesburg. This apparent paradox clearly illustrates the fluid and contradictory times we are currently experiencing.
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