South Africa ‘temporarily suspends participation’ in G20 amid tensions with the US

“This time next year, Britain will assume the presidency of the G20. Then, South Africa will be able to participate in a real and meaningful way on issues that really matter to the rest of the world,” Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said today.

The United States last week took over the rotating presidency of the G20, after boycotting the summit hosted by President Ramaphosa in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Currently, we will take a break while advertising, until the program resumes normal broadcasting,” Mr. Magwenya added, using sarcasm.

The US has not commented on this move by South Africa.

The US and South Africa are disagreeing on a series of domestic and foreign policies. When Mr. Ramaphosa arrived at the White House in May, US President Donald Trump released a video accusing the South African government of carrying out a campaign against white farmers. The South African government denies all accusations.

The two countries also disagreed over South Africa suing Israel, a US ally, to the International Court of Justice for allegedly committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Mr. Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South Africa, the highest in the sub-Saharan region.

Tensions peaked after the US did not send a representative to the G20 summit in Johannesburg last month.

On November 26, Mr. Trump announced that he would not invite South African officials to next year’s G20 summit in Miami on the grounds that the country “violates human rights against white farmers” and refused to symbolically transfer the G20 presidency to the United States at the end of the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

Responding to Mr. Trump not inviting him to the conference, South Africa declared that the country is a member of the G20 and that its position in the group is decided by other members.

South Africa is a founding member of the G20, which brings together the world’s largest economies. Spokesman Magwenya said Pretoria had not solicited support from other countries, but had received messages of solidarity from some G20 members.