G20 Summit I Xolisa Mabhongo on G20 Summit victories

The article discusses the successful conclusion of the first G20 summit hosted in Africa by South Africa in Johannesburg, hailed as a resounding success by President Cyril Ramaphosa. He closed the event emphasizing unity and partnership to address global challenges, with the 30-page leaders' declaration committing to reforming the international financial system, promoting inclusive growth, reducing inequality, and accelerating progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The declaration mentions 'Africa' over 80 times, highlighting the continent's priorities. In an interview, South Africa's G20 Deputy Sherpa, Ambassador Felisa Mabongo, details two years of preparations starting in 2024, including coordinating summit dates amid other global events like APEC, ASEAN, and COP in Brazil; selecting themes resonant with global issues (inequality, joblessness) and South African/African needs; and conducting 133 meetings across nine provinces for inclusivity. While non-binding, the declaration includes concrete actions: a G20 Critical Minerals Framework to ensure local beneficiation, investment in exploration, and community benefits for African producers; commitments to disaster risk reduction via early warnings, private sector financing, and climate adaptation; and the AI for Africa program for capacity building, involving organizations like UNESCO. On debt, it addresses transparency, crisis-resilient clauses, and support for low-income countries, critiquing the slow Common Framework and linking debt (with Africa paying $89 billion in service costs this year, more than on health/education) to inequality via a report by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz. Funding strategies include debt swaps, blended financing, official development assistance, domestic resource mobilization (e.g., improving tax capacity), and a three-year roadmap to curb illicit financial flows ($80 billion annual loss from Africa). The declaration calls for peace in conflict zones like Sudan, DRC, Gaza, and Ukraine but avoids naming aggressors. Implementation is hopeful, drawing on G20's COVID response track record, with South Africa committed to follow-up. The presidency hands over to the United States on December 1, with a transition meeting planned; each host sets its own priorities.