SA hopes other G20 members will raise the issue at the first sherpas meeting in Washington on Monday. The South African government has formally asked other G20 countries to object to its exclusion from next year’s G20 at the first sherpas meeting of the US G20 on Monday, 15 December. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) sent an official “note verbale” on Wednesday, 10 December, to the embassies and high commissions of the G20 countries, with this request.
The note said that the US government had officially informed SA on 4 December that it was “not invited to participate in any G20 events during its presidency, including meetings of the sherpas, working groups, ministers as well as the 2026 Leaders’ Summit. “The United States of America further conveyed that it will forego the troika format during its G20 presidency.” Note Verbal on South Africa’s Participation in 2026 G20bygreg The G20 troika comprises the current, immediate past and next presidencies of the forum. It provides some continuity in the running of the G20 between different presidencies.
In normal circumstances, South Africa would have remained on the troika during the US presidency next year, along with the US and the UK, which will take over the presidency for 2027. “South Africa therefore requests that the issue of the exclusion of one G20 member be placed on the agenda of the first G20 Sherpa Meeting in Washington DC for discussion and clarification,” Dirco’s note verbale continued. “The exclusion of South Africa by the United States of America should also be differentiated from the United States of America’s choosing not to participate in the majority of meetings held under South Africa’s G20 Presidency including the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. “Further, we are concerned about the precedent that will be set by the exclusion of South Africa from the G20 presidency of the United States of America in 2026.”
Read Full Article on Daily Maverick
