Johannesburg – Global leaders meeting in South Africa for the first-ever G20 Summit held on African soil adopted their final declaration on the opening day of deliberations, breaking with tradition by concluding negotiations at the outset rather than the end of the summit. Endorsed on November 22, the declaration sets out landmark commitments on energy access, debt sustainability, climate action, and industrialization, signaling a coordinated shift by the world’s largest economies toward deeper engagement with Africa’s development priorities.
South African Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed the early adoption, explaining that negotiators had completed their work ahead of schedule. The host nation deliberately moved the declaration to “the first order of the day” to allow leaders to focus less on procedural bargaining and more on practical cooperation. This approach ensured that Africa’s priorities—energy security, trade, digital innovation, and climate resilience—shaped the summit’s agenda, leaving the remaining days for discussions on implementation pathways.
The declaration underscores that hosting the G20 in Africa reflects a broader recognition that global challenges—energy shortages, financial instability, climate pressures, and trade disruptions—cannot be solved without the continent’s leadership. Anchored in the principle of Ubuntu, the document stresses that stability and prosperity require cooperation built on shared responsibility.
Energy access emerged as one of the most urgent issues. With more than 600 million Africans still lacking electricity and nearly a billion relying on biomass for cooking, leaders acknowledged that Africa’s development prospects hinge on expanding affordable, reliable, and clean power. They backed international commitments to triple global renewable energy capacity and endorsed Africa’s push for concessional financing, technology transfer, and tailored energy transition pathways. Mission 300, a joint initiative of the World Bank and African Development Bank to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, was welcomed as a key instrument for turning promises into infrastructure.
Debt sustainability was highlighted as a parallel challenge. Rising borrowing costs, shrinking fiscal space, and mounting interest payments have left many African countries spending more on debt servicing than on education or health. G20 members pledged to strengthen the Common Framework for debt treatment, improve creditor transparency, and support reforms at the IMF and World Bank to expand access to climate-linked instruments and concessional financing. The creation of a 25th seat for Sub-Saharan Africa on the IMF Executive Board was hailed as a step toward fairer representation in global financial governance.
Climate action featured prominently, with leaders reaffirming the 1.5°C target and stressing the need for climate finance to rise from billions to trillions. Predictable financing was identified as essential for Africa’s renewable energy expansion, resilience building, and nature-based solutions. New initiatives on forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and universal early-warning systems were welcomed, including South Africa’s launch of the UN-backed Early Warnings for All roadmap.
Industrialization was framed as central to Africa’s long-term growth. Leaders endorsed the Critical Minerals Framework, designed to help resource-rich countries shift from raw mineral exports to local value addition. The declaration also supports voluntary principles for sustainable industrial hubs, emphasizing job creation, labor rights, and social protection.
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence drew significant attention. Leaders welcomed the AI for Africa Initiative, aimed at expanding access to computing infrastructure, skilled talent, and high-quality datasets. UNESCO’s new Technology Policy Assistance Facility will assist African countries in crafting regulatory frameworks for AI deployment. The G20 also reaffirmed commitments to close the gender digital divide and achieve universal meaningful connectivity by 2030.
Food security was another priority. With global hunger rising and African households disproportionately affected by food price volatility, leaders backed the Ubuntu Approaches on Food Security and Nutrition. Commitments included support for fertilizer production, agricultural modernization, and intra-African trade under the AfCFTA.
By adopting the declaration early, leaders freed space for deeper discussions on Africa’s role in global decision-making. They endorsed the G20 Finance Track Africa Engagement Framework to 2030 and launched the Ubuntu Legacy Initiative to accelerate cross-border infrastructure. With the African Union now a full G20 member, the Johannesburg summit affirmed that global governance must evolve to reflect Africa’s demographic, economic, and environmental significance.
The G20 will reconvene under the United States’ presidency in 2026, carrying forward a roadmap rooted in cooperation, sustainability, and shared prosperity.