The African Union has condemned the United States’ exclusion of South Africa from the G20.
The AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf made the remarks after meeting with South Africa’s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. He said the decision undermines Africa’s voice in global economic discussions. Youssouf stressed that South Africa is a major player in the G20.
He praised Pretoria’s leadership during its presidency of the forum last year.
The US had however, taken issue with South Africa’s leadership especially as Pretoria sought to make the G20 more inclusive of the developing world. This matter, as well as tensions over the US backing claims that there is a white genocide in South Africa, have soured relations between the two nations, which also lead to the US excluding Pretoria from this year’s G20 events.
Washington has since announced that Poland will take South Africa’s seat.
