Ofure Akhigbe
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg, describing it as “their loss.”
Trump announced earlier this week that no U.S. officials would attend the November 22–23 summit, citing what he called the “violent persecution and land seizures” of white South Africans and accusing the country of committing “genocide” against its white minority.
Ramaphosa dismissed the allegations as false, saying South Africa would not be distracted by “baseless claims and misinformation.” He maintained that the G20 gathering, the first ever to be hosted on African soil, would proceed as planned with the participation of other world leaders.
“In my experience, boycotts never really work,” Ramaphosa said. “All other heads of state will be here, and their absence is their loss.”
South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana also rejected the genocide allegations, calling them “fabrications” aimed at undermining the country’s leadership role on the global stage.
Analysts say the boycott marks a new low in U.S.–South Africa relations, already strained by Pretoria’s stance on the Israel–Gaza conflict and its case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.
Despite the U.S. withdrawal, preparations for the Johannesburg summit continue, with leaders from the G20’s other member states expected to attend.