African Leaders Present Unified Agenda Ahead of G20 Summit

Addis Ababa, November 21, 2025 (FMC) — On the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, African Heads of State, the African Union, and leading continental institutions convened to present a unified African voice and advance the continent’s priorities on the global stage.

The pre-summit meeting focused on four high-level priorities set by South Africa’s G20 Presidency: strengthening disaster resilience and response, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilizing finance for a just energy transition, and harnessing Africa’s minerals to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.

President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to advancing Africa’s development priorities within the framework of the G20 and enhancing regional, multilateral, and international cooperation.

African leaders congratulated South Africa for its successful stewardship of the continent’s first-ever G20 Presidency, held under the theme “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” reflecting the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasizes communal interconnectedness.

The meeting highlighted the G20’s partnership with Africa in support of Agenda 2063, focusing on economic growth, job creation, and prosperity, including the key role of private sector investment in unlocking the continent’s potential.

African leaders welcomed initiatives launched under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, including the AI Initiative for Africa, the Ubuntu Principles on Food Security, Nutrition and Price Volatility, the G20 Africa Cooperation Agenda on Trade and Investment, and the broadened Compact with Africa.

President Ramaphosa also stressed the urgent need to address Africa’s rising debt burden, noting that over 3.4 billion people live in countries spending more on interest payments than on health or education. Leaders voiced support for the G20 Ministerial Declaration on Debt Sustainability, and committed to advancing related objectives outlined in the Lomé Declaration on Debt and the Common African Position on Debt.

They further endorsed the creation of a global Borrowers Platform to strengthen technical cooperation and amplify borrower voices, with South Africa offering to host its inaugural meeting in 2026.

The Africa Expert Panel, chaired by former South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, presented recommendations aimed at accelerating investment, enhancing debt transparency, improving regulatory frameworks, and unlocking more finance for infrastructure and development.

African leaders also welcomed the report of the G20 Extraordinary Committee on Global Inequality, which proposed establishing a permanent International Panel on Inequality to ensure continued high-level discussion on inequality in the G20 and other multilateral fora.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate closely with the G20, international institutions, and global partners to accelerate Africa’s transformation, enhance resilience, and unlock the continent’s full potential in line with Agenda 2063.