South Africa has formally requested other G20 nations to challenge its exclusion from upcoming events under the US presidency. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation sent a note verbale to G20 embassies on 10 December, asking them to raise the issue at the first sherpas meeting in Washington on 15 December. This follows the US notifying South Africa on 4 December that it would not be invited to any G20 activities in 2026.
The South African government took diplomatic action after receiving notification from the United States on 4 December that it was excluded from all G20 events during the US's 2026 presidency. This includes sherpas meetings, working groups, ministerial gatherings, and the Leaders’ Summit. The US also stated it would not follow the traditional troika format, which involves coordination among the current, previous, and incoming presidencies.
Under normal procedures, South Africa, as the outgoing presidency from 2025, would join the troika alongside the US and the United Kingdom, set to lead in 2027. The exclusion disrupts this continuity, prompting concern over precedents for the group.
On 10 December, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) dispatched a formal note verbale to G20 embassies and high commissions. The document calls for the matter to be added to the agenda of the inaugural G20 sherpas meeting in Washington DC on 15 December. It emphasizes distinguishing this from the US's decision to skip most events under South Africa's 2025 presidency, including the Johannesburg summit.
Dirco Director-General Zane Dangor, who serves as South Africa's G20 sherpa, indicated to media outlets that no responses had been received to the note as of 12 December. However, he expressed confidence that fellow sherpas would address the exclusion's risks during the meeting. Dangor noted recent discussions with counterparts, describing them as supportive. He warned that proceeding without South Africa would undermine the forum's integrity, turning it into a partial assembly rather than a full G20.
This development highlights tensions in multilateral diplomacy as the US assumes leadership of the group.
