Nigeria to host G20 event in Abuja as South Africa extends invitation
South Africa has extended an invitation to Nigeria to host a G20 event in Abuja, an offer that could signal closer cooperation between the continent’s two economic giants.
According to reports, the invitation was made by Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Foreign Minister, to his Nigerian counterpart, amid preparations for the annual G20 leaders’ summit, which includes 19 countries along with the European Union and African Union, set for November in Johannesburg
While the event Nigeria will host is yet to be confirmed, it would mark Nigeria’s most direct involvement in the G20, so far.
While the country has never held permanent membership, it has participated as a guest under previous presidencies, most recently during India’s in 2023, and earlier under Former President Muhammadu Buhari through initiatives like the G20 Compact with Africa.
This year, South Africa, which has held the presidency of the G20 since December 2024, is focusing on digital public infrastructure (DPI), artificial intelligence, and global cooperation amid geopolitical and economic shifts.
But tensions are already mounting ahead of the summit, with former U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to boycott the event altogether, citing claims of anti-white crimes, including land confiscation and genocide in South Africa.
“They are taking the land of white farmers. and then killing them and their families. The media refuses to report on this,” Trump posted on his Truth Social.
“The United States has held back all contributions to South Africa. Is this where we want to be for the G20? I don’t think so!”
Earlier in the year, Trump suspended all forms of financial aid to South Africa over accusations of land expropriation from white farmers and alleged violence against them.
Responding to the outburst, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman said they were no longer expecting Trump to attend the summit.
The ruling party dismissed Trump’s claims as a smokescreen, accusing him of using the controversy “to avoid facing his global peers” after announcing sweeping tariffs that critics have labelled economic sabotage.
The U.S. had also expelled Ebrahim Rasool, the South African Ambassador, in March, over “race baiting.”
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