G20 Leaders' Declaration | Larry Madowo on sentiments in Washington

The article is a transcript of a live SABC interview from the G20 summit media center in South Africa (referred to as Nazre), conducted late in the evening amid ongoing rugby coverage. Host Oliver speaks with CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo about the summit's outcomes and broader African issues. Key points on the G20: South Africa successfully hosted the event, achieving an overwhelming consensus on a 30-page declaration covering 122 elements, including climate action, debt restructuring for highly indebted countries, inequality panels, inclusivity, sustainability, and solidarity—themes emphasized by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Despite U.S. absence under President Donald Trump (who sent no high-level representative, prompting South Africa to refuse handover to a junior official), the summit proceeded smoothly, with European leaders like those from France, Finland, and Norway defending multilateralism against Trump's transactional approach. Argentina objected to parts of the declaration but was overruled without nullifying it; U.S. presence might have blocked climate and debt language. Implications include potential U.S. efforts to undo progressive elements as the next G20 host in Florida, with South Africa and the upcoming UK presidency (theme TBD) needing to collaborate to preserve gains like debt relief, which excited African leaders from Sierra Leone, Namibia, and others, without alienating Western institutions. The hospitality and atmosphere at the summit were praised. Shifting focus, Madowo discusses his CNN forensic investigation into post-election violence in Tanzania after the October 29, 2023, polls. The election led to chaos, a curfew, internet shutdown, media gag, and alleged police killings of unarmed protesters, including a 3-month pregnant woman shot in the back while fleeing in Arusha. Using audio forensics, satellite imagery, and interviews with over 100 Tanzanians (despite risks), the report confirmed police involvement and signs of mass graves near Dar es Salaam in Kondo Cemetery, though full scale remains unknown due to suppression—opposition claims up to 2,000 deaths, potentially exceeding Kenya's 2007-2008 post-election toll of over 1,500. Tanzania, once a democratic beacon and tourist hub, faces a chilling effect on truth and reporting, with no government rebuttals to the findings two days post-release. The interview highlights South Africa's G20 triumph for Africa amid global challenges and underscores threats to continental democracy via Tanzania's crackdown.