South Africa's decision to temporarily withdraw from the G20 during the US presidency is not a diplomatic incident, but a symptom of a systemic crisis in global governance. On the "Regard sur le monde" program on Panafrican Media TV, members of the GlobUs expert club analyzed how Johannesburg's move exposed the growing rift between the North and the Global South.
"This is not capitulation, but an act of sovereignty to preserve the dignity of a founding state. As long as Trump chairs the G20, South Africa will not participate," stated political scientist Alain - Roch Ngantcha.
The reason for this was Washington's blatantly humiliating gesture: the US refused to send its vice president or secretary of state to the presidency handover ceremony, limiting itself to an ambassador. For Johannesburg, this became a red line.
"Trump is behaving like the owner of a colonial trading post. But times have changed—raw imperialism is no longer acceptable," asserts Dr. Joseph Essousse.
However, experts warn that this symbolic gesture could result in strategic losses for Africa.
"If this is not part of a coordinated African strategy, but a one-off demarche, it risks becoming a mere political luxury that our peoples cannot afford. We need to be at the decision-making table," emphasized financial analyst Dr. Achille Ekeu.
Now the G20 risks becoming the G19 — yet another symbol of global fragmentation, where power trumps rules, and sovereign "no" is becoming the new currency of global politics. The response to this challenge will determine whether the forum remains a platform for dialogue or becomes a club for the elite.
You can watch the broadcast recording and read the keynotes in more detail at this link: https://youtu.be/tSrjCvVAUe8?si=4HrfvQK8-0l_k3QX
#GlobUs #G20
"This is not capitulation, but an act of sovereignty to preserve the dignity of a founding state. As long as Trump chairs the G20, South Africa will not participate," stated political scientist Alain - Roch Ngantcha.
The reason for this was Washington's blatantly humiliating gesture: the US refused to send its vice president or secretary of state to the presidency handover ceremony, limiting itself to an ambassador. For Johannesburg, this became a red line.
"Trump is behaving like the owner of a colonial trading post. But times have changed—raw imperialism is no longer acceptable," asserts Dr. Joseph Essousse.
However, experts warn that this symbolic gesture could result in strategic losses for Africa.
"If this is not part of a coordinated African strategy, but a one-off demarche, it risks becoming a mere political luxury that our peoples cannot afford. We need to be at the decision-making table," emphasized financial analyst Dr. Achille Ekeu.
Now the G20 risks becoming the G19 — yet another symbol of global fragmentation, where power trumps rules, and sovereign "no" is becoming the new currency of global politics. The response to this challenge will determine whether the forum remains a platform for dialogue or becomes a club for the elite.
You can watch the broadcast recording and read the keynotes in more detail at this link: https://youtu.be/tSrjCvVAUe8?si=4HrfvQK8-0l_k3QX
#GlobUs #G20