US EditionAfrica Has a Debt Crisis - Momentum From G20 in South Africa Can Help Find Solutions
South Africa's G20 presidency prioritizes debt restructuring, climate finance, and inequality as primary agenda items to advance Global South interests, experts say.
- On 22–23 November, the 2025 G20 Summit meets in Johannesburg, South Africa, the first on African soil, focusing on the theme `Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability` to shift global economic governance toward Global South priorities.
- South Africa established four overarching priorities for its presidency, including debt sustainability for low-income countries and mobilising finance for a just energy transition, foregrounding sovereign debt burdens and inequality.
- With the United States and China stepping back at leadership level, South Africa established expert mechanisms, including the Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts chaired by Joseph Stiglitz.
- Despite securing a declaration on debt sustainability, it lacked binding commitments and clear remedies, and substantial progress is unlikely in the remaining weeks of South Africa's G20 presidency.
- An absence of top leaders opens space for middle-power and developing countries to drive outcomes, and Next year South Africa can still table reports as a G20 Troika member with the African Union now a permanent participant.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Africa has a Debt Crisis: Momentum from G20 in South Africa can Help Find Solutions
Rising debt, geopolitical instability and declining aid flows are intensifying external pressure on African economies. In a briefing to the Africa Group of ambassadors at the United Nations headquarters last July, Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), highlighted the economic pressures facing African countries and outlined ECA’s response, from budget stabilization and strengthened data systems to advanci…
South Africa ready to welcome G20 Leaders' Summit guests
With the eyes of the world firmly focused on South Africa, attention now turns to the historic first ever G20 Leaders’ Summit on African soil. On 22 and 23 November 2025, Nasrec in Johannesburg will welcome a number of world leaders and other dignitaries for this landmark gathering. An event of this magnitude, with global implications will of course draw added scrutiny and some of this has focused on the country’s readiness to host the Summit. M…
2025 IWFSA Cornerstone Conference: Ubuntu, “I am because we are” – The Mail & Guardian
Leading with Inclusion: Building Leaders, Not Followers Yolanda Cuba: Deputy Chief Executive Officer, MTN South Africa With more than two decades of experience spanning telecommunications, financial services, and diversified investments, Yolanda Cuba combines operational expertise with a deep commitment to people-centred leadership. In her role at MTN, she provides leadership to many. When we sat down at the International Women’s Forum South Af…
The Conversation
Africa has a debt crisis: momentum from G20 in South Africa can help find solutions
The end of South Africa’s G20 presidency does not mean the end of its ability or responsibility to promote the issues it prioritised during 2025. It can still advocate for action on some of these issues through its further participation in the G20 and in other international and regional forums. In this article, I argue that going forward South Africa should prioritise the financial challenges confronting Africa that it championed in 2025. South …
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