42 Nations and Organisations Confirm Attendance at South Africa’s Historic G20 Summit
South Africa has confirmed that 42 countries and international organisations will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg this weekend, marking the first time the global gathering is being held on African soil. Government officials say the country is fully prepared to welcome presidents, prime ministers, policy-makers, and multilateral institutions for what is expected to be one of the most consequential diplomatic events in Africa’s modern history.
The two day summit, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, will serve as the climax of South Africa’s year long G20 chairmanship a term defined by the country’s push for “African priorities in global decision making”, climate resilience, and fairer international financial systems. On Thursday, Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivered the keynote address outlining South Africa’s readiness and the importance of the moment for the continent.
South Africa’s hosting is being widely described as a geopolitical milestone. Since its inception in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis, the G20 has primarily convened in major economies in the Global North or established Asian powerhouses. Bringing the summit to Africa signals a shift toward greater regional inclusion and acknowledges the continent’s growing economic and political significance.
The Johannesburg summit is expected to produce the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, addressing economic stability, global conflict, climate financing, and reform of international financial institutions. Attendance uncertainties remain around a few major economies, but officials say the presence of 42 confirmed delegations underscores strong global support for South Africa’s chairmanship.
As the country prepares to hand over the G20 presidency to the United States at the close of the summit, analysts predict that Johannesburg will set a new benchmark for African leadership in multilateral diplomacy.
