Pretoria prepares for G20 Leaders’ Summit amid US absence

South Africa is preparing to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg for the first time on the continent, gathering over 60 heads of state despite the high-profile absence of US President Donald Trump and all American officials. Trump withdrew after months of limited US engagement, citing a false narrative about genocide against white Afrikaners, creating uncertainty over the ceremonial handover previously expected from Vice President JD Vance. Other notable absences include Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, with delegates arriving amid major traffic disruptions in Gauteng. The US pullout is unlikely to affect summit outcomes, as negotiations for the Johannesburg Declaration proceed, bolstered by African Union support for South Africa's Global South leadership.