US Sidelines Itself from G20 African Summit

At a moment when global powers are vying for influence in Africa, the United States chose not to send a delegation to the G20 Compact with Africa Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, scheduled from November 22nd–23rd. The decision raises questions about Washington’s long-term engagement on the continent at a time when Africa is becoming a key arena for energy, minerals and global influence. The summit brought together leaders from the EU, Russia, China and several African nations to discuss investment, energy security, and the restructuring of global supply chains. The absence of any senior American official has been described by African and European diplomats as “surprising” and “strategically confusing.” While Trump had already said he would not attend—and Vice President JD Vance was initially expected to represent the US—the boycott leaves the country completely unrepresented and reflects a broader pattern of stepping back from multilateral forums under the Trump administration.

Trump defended the absence by repeating claims that white Afrikaners—descendants of 17th-century French, German, and Dutch settlers—are being persecuted in South Africa. On Truth Social, he wrote that “Afrikaners… are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.” South Africa’s foreign ministry rejected these claims, calling them “widely discredited and unsupported by reliable evidence.”

The diplomatic rift comes at a critical moment. South Africa holds the G20 presidency until November 2025, when it is expected to hand over leadership to the US, with Trump likely to host the next summit at his Doral resort near Miami. Relations between Washington and Pretoria have grown tense since Trump took office in January 2025: The US has cut aid, accused South Africa of “unjust and immoral practices” toward the Afrikaner minority, and criticized South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in 2023. For African leaders, the US absence highlights concerns that Washington’s engagement is inconsistent and often driven by domestic politics.

The timing is also notable because, in October 2022, the Biden administration launched a development-financing initiative for clean-energy projects in Kenya and Senegal—an effort aimed at countering China’s growing influence in Africa’s renewable-energy sector. The program supported solar, wind and other low-carbon projects, along with infrastructure and job creation. Under Trump, US involvement in African development initiatives has shifted, leaving European, Chinese and African leaders to take the lead on discussions about investment, renewable-energy funding and strategic mineral supply chains.

South Africa’s Foreign Ministry called the US decision “regrettable,” and President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that all G20 members must work together to ensure the interests of vulnerable nations are not overshadowed by the ambitions of the powerful. The US absence could weaken Washington’s influence over key investment and security decisions in Africa, giving European, Chinese and Russian actors more room to expand their economic and strategic presence. Analysts warn that continued US disengagement from major economic forums risks losing influence over critical minerals, renewable-energy components, and supply chains that are vital for both African development and U.S. strategic interests.

Extemp Question: Is the US making the right decision by disengaging from the G20 Africa Summit?

Read more here:

• André Rhoden-Paul, BBC News

• Rossella Marangio, European Union Institute for Security Studies 

• The Voice of Africa