G20 Declaration focuses on solidarity, debt relief, and Africa’s development

By Thapelo Molefe

World leaders adopted a 30-page G20 Leaders’ Declaration in Johannesburg on Saturday, marking the first time the summit has been hosted on African soil and placing the continent’s development priorities at the centre of global governance.

Meeting under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” leaders emphasised that their gathering was guided by the principles of Ubuntu, saying the summit recognised that “individual nations cannot thrive in isolation” and that global cooperation must ensure “no one is left behind”.

In the document, leaders warned of “rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability” and “heightened conflicts and wars”.

The leaders also condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure, saying countries must act in accordance with international law and refrain from the use of force against another state’s sovereignty.

On global peace efforts, the declaration committed members to supporting “a just, comprehensive and lasting peace” in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo,