标签： Africa

In a historic first, the Group of 20 (G20) summit is being held in Africa, with world leaders gathering in Johannesburg to address pressing global issues. However, the event has been overshadowed by a significant rift between host South Africa and the United States, following President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the summit. Trump’s administration labeled South Africa’s hosting as a ‘disgrace,’ citing unfounded claims of persecution against the white Afrikaner minority in the majority-Black nation. This boycott by the world’s largest economy threatens to undermine the summit’s agenda, which focuses on critical issues such as climate change, debt burdens in poor countries, and global inequality. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed not to be bullied, emphasizing the importance of the summit for developing nations. Despite the absence of the U.S., other global leaders, including representatives from the European Union, China, and Russia, are actively participating, seeking to forge new partnerships and address shared challenges. The summit also highlights China’s growing influence in Africa, as Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed a $1.4 billion railway refurbishment deal in Zambia, further cementing China’s economic presence on the continent. Analysts suggest that the U.S. boycott may push developing countries to strengthen ties with other global powers, potentially reshaping international governance.

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement in southeastern Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful self-determination following the life imprisonment sentence handed to its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on terrorism charges. Kanu, the founder of IPOB, was convicted on Thursday by a Nigerian court, which accused him of orchestrating acts of terrorism, enforcing violent stay-at-home orders, and inciting violence in the region. IPOB, which seeks the creation of an independent state in Nigeria’s southeast, has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that no weapons or attack plans were ever linked to Kanu. The group maintains that its leader has not violated any Nigerian or international laws. In a statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful emphasized the group’s dedication to peaceful advocacy and its pursuit of a United Nations–supervised referendum. The court’s decision has sparked controversy, with Judge James Omotosho stating that while the right to self-determination is a political right, any such efforts must align with Nigeria’s constitution to be considered legal. Meanwhile, violence in the southeast has been attributed to political motives, with IPOB claiming it is unrelated to Kanu, who remains in detention. The case has drawn parallels to the conviction of another Nigerian separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, who was sentenced to six years in prison in Finland in September for terrorism-related charges.

The inaugural G20 summit on African soil, hosted in South Africa, represents a pivotal moment for the continent to harness support from Global South nations in driving transformative reforms. This historic event aims to address systemic inequalities in global governance, foster equitable development, and strengthen genuine international cooperation. Scholars and diplomats have long criticized the marginalization of Africa in global affairs, attributing it to the dominance of a few powerful nations that have consistently sidelined the voices and interests of developing countries. David Monyae, director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, emphasized that this structural imbalance has perpetuated inequality and restricted meaningful participation in global governance. Despite these challenges, developing economies are increasingly shaping global outcomes, as noted by Wu Peng, China’s ambassador to South Africa. Wu highlighted China’s zero-tariff treatment for products from 53 African countries as a practical step toward fairer trade systems. He also criticized the U.S.-led tariff wars for undermining the modernization efforts of the Global South. The summit underscores the need for unity and leadership from the Global South to reform global governance. China has reaffirmed its support for South Africa’s G20 presidency, emphasizing mutual respect and shared prosperity. Paul Frimpong, an economic analyst, described the summit as an opportunity to recalibrate global engagement, moving beyond aid dependency to genuine partnerships and investment. He stressed that hosting the G20 in Africa allows the continent to reframe global priorities through its lens of justice, sustainability, and shared prosperity. Frimpong also highlighted China’s expanding engagement with Africa as a model for inclusive global cooperation, citing initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and green financing as evidence of mutual benefit rather than charity.