Johannesburg marked not who was absent, but how confidently Africa influenced the global agenda
At the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, the first on African soil, the world witnessed a quiet shift in global history. An empty chair, left by the United States, drew early attention, but it was South Africa's leadership and Africa's growing confidence that defined the moment. The Summit was shaped not by anyone's absence but by Africa's presence: clear, principled and ready to take its place at the centre of global governance. The Declaration did not unfold in defiance of any nation. It unfolded in affirmation of Africa's political, moral and strategic independence.
A summit rooted in ubuntu, not geopolitics