// EDITORS’ INTRODUCTIONS
As the first African-hosted G20 summit, Johannesburg offers a pivotal platform to amplify African priorities on debt, climate and inclusive growth, strengthening Africa’s role in shaping the future of global cooperation Africa’s voice at the G20: Will Johannesburg deliver?
S outh Africa’s G20 presidency comes at an increasingly difficult moment for international cooperation and consensus building. Although it marks a significant milestone in advancing African voices within global policy processes, these same processes have come under tremen- dous pressure. Nevertheless, this G20 has provided a unique opportunity for South Africa and Africa to articulate and advance African priorities on the global stage. As the fourth consecutive developing country presidency of the G20, South Africa has also sought to consolidate the broader Global South development agenda, which was the focus of the preceding presidencies. South Africa identified four priorities for its presidency, which resonate with the challenges facing African states. The first is the issue of debt sustainability, espe- cially for low-income countries. In 2023, 54 developing countries, of which nearly half were in Africa, spent at least 10% of government funds on debt interest pay- ments. Today, 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt pay- ments than on health or education. The G20 Common Framework for Debt Treat- ments, adopted in 2020 to help countries
Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, chief executive, and Krissmonne Olwagen, G20 research fellow, South African Institute of International Affairs
40 // G20 SOUTH AFRICA: THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT 2025
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