The G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the first time the forum is meeting on African soil. The symbolism is strong, but the stakes are much higher. As the first African country to hold the G20 presidency, South Africa is committed to building the development agenda of the Global South on „Solidarity, Equity, Sustainability“.
The G20 was established after the Asian financial crisis in 1997, when the world realised that global economic governance could no longer be shaped by advanced economies alone. Emerging economies demanded a seat at the table.
Today, two decades later, as the G20 has grown into a broader economic and governance forum, this logic is even more compelling. Asia's rise continues, Africa is on the cusp of demographic and economic transformation, and the long-assumed dominance of the global North is showing signs of fatigue - from slow growth to fragmented politics.
This makes the Johannesburg summit a turning point for global governance and a test of whether the G20 can remain relevant in a world where the balance of power is changing rapidly.
South Africa's presidency is clear - it puts the needs of developing countries at the centre. The following four priorities reflect the day-to-day constraints that define life across the global South:
Strengthening disaster response capacities
Climate-related disasters disproportionately affect developing countries, many of which lack early warning systems, adaptation finance or disaster recovery mechanisms. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in January, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that elevating disaster resilience to the level of the G20 leaders' agenda is overdue.
Ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries
More than 50 developing countries are in or close to debt distress. Access to affordable finance remains elusive. South Africa's leadership in convening the G20-Africa High-Level Dialogue on Debt and the Cost of Capital illustrates this point.
Promoting a fair energy transition
While rich countries, which bear the brunt of excessive carbon emissions, are pushing for rapid decarbonisation, many developing economies are worried about the costs, job losses and instability that could follow if the transition is poorly financed. South Africa argues that climate justice must mean not only reducing emissions, but also unlocking financing so that energy transitions create jobs, build industry and expand access.
Improving the sustainable use of mineral resources and inclusive growth
Africa holds many of the essential minerals for a cutting-edge global green economy. The question is whether the continent will once again be relegated to extracting raw materials for others, or whether it will climb the value chain, industrialise and exploit its own resources.
On 7 November, US President Donald Trump said that no US officials would attend this year's G20 summit because of what he described as „human rights abuses“ in South Africa. This absence will cast a shadow and raise questions about the great powers' commitment to inclusive multilateralism.
However, history shows that international forums often reappear in times of crisis. The G20 itself emerged out of the crisis in 1999. The global financial meltdown of 2008-09 transformed it from a ministerial meeting to a summit of leaders. Today, with geopolitical tensions and economic fragility challenging old institutions, the G20 is once again faced with a choice: to renew itself or to decline?
For South Africa, this moment is both a risk and an unprecedented opportunity. The Johannesburg summit could thus be the moment when the G20 becomes truly global, or the moment when it loses relevance to the emerging alternative frameworks.
Hosting the G20 is a continent-wide mandate for South Africa. Through the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 and its role as host, African leaders are sending a signal that global governance must meaningfully reflect their interests.
The success of the summit will depend on three factors:
Clarity on the demands of the global South. Debt reform, concessional financing, climate adaptation funds, space for industrial policy and access to technology must remain on the table.
Unity among developing countries. Fragmentation has historically weakened the influence of the global South. A coordinated approach, especially between Africa and Asia, will be crucial.
Specific, monitorable commitments. Empty communiqués are no longer enough. The Global South needs deadlines, funding amounts, delivery mechanisms.
The world has changed since the G20 was founded in the turbulent 1990s. The global South must drive global priorities.
The Johannesburg Summit is a crossroads. If successful, it can redirect the G20 towards a more inclusive, development-oriented future and reaffirm multilateralism at a time when the world needs it most. If it fails, the global South may increasingly seek alternative frameworks to shape its destiny.
This moment requires leadership - and South Africa now has both the opportunity and the responsibility to provide it.
Kirtan Bhana
Thediplomaticsociety/gnews.cz - GH
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