US Continues Strained Ties with Africa, Warns SAfrica against Issuing G-20 Statement

 •Ramaphosa presses ahead despite threat 

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The US has formally warned South Africa against pushing for a joint statement at this weekends Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg that the Donald Trump administration is boycotting, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.

The move adds to the fractious relations between the continent and the US under the Trump government, which recently vowed to intervene in Nigerias security challenges (ostensibly with or without Nigerias go-ahead) over alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria.

The diplomatic standoff is particularly awkward given that its the first time the continent is hosting a G-20 and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is passing the baton to US President Donald Trump at the end of this year.

Tensions between the two men came to a head at an Oval Office meeting in May, when Ramaphosa had to endure a dressing down in front of the cameras. Trump escalated the spat further by saying he wouldnt attend the summit, and followed up with a complete boycott of the event, the Bloomberg report said.

The US openly opposes South Africas G-20 presidency and its core agenda of solidarity, equality and sustainability  part of Ramaphosas push for a more inclusive world order. That adds to Trumps false accusations Pretoria is conducting a genocide against White Afrikaners and expropriating land.

Washingtons absence negates its role over the G20s conclusions, South African foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said by phone on Wednesday. We cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic. It is a recipe for institutional paralysis and the breakdown of collective action, Bloomberg quoted Phiri as saying.

In the diplomatic communication delivered on November 15, the US said it would neither participate in preparatory talks before the summit, nor the gathering of world leaders this weekend. It will block any outcome framed as a consensus G-20 position because South Africas priorities run counter to US policy views, according to a copy of the document.

The US opposes issuance of any G-20 summit outcome document under the premise of a consensus G-20 position, without US agreement, it said. If a deliverable is issued under your presidency, it will be framed solely as a chairs statement to accurately reflect the absence of consensus, it added.

The White House and State Department didnt immediately respond to Bloombergs messages left for comment sent before normal US business hours.

Despite the US opposition, South Africa is pressing ahead with efforts to obtain a joint statement at the summit that ends on Sunday.

Securing a declaration is a priority for South Africa. It has sought to build on the agenda advanced by recent G-20 presidents from the so-called Global South  Indonesia, India and Brazil. The US takes over as G20 president in December.

Brazils position is that we must have a declaration, so we are discussing it with the countries that are here, Ambassador Philip Gough, secretary for economic and financial affairs at Brazils Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on Wednesday. The South African presidencys position is that there should be a declaration, and Brazils position is to strongly support having one.

One European G-20 official said their country would support either a joint declaration or a lesser chairmans summary. The official is involved in the ongoing preparatory talks and asked not to be identified as they are private.

Germanys government said it fully supports South Africas G-20 presidency in a statement on Monday.

Most countries have lead negotiators, known as sherpas, involved in talks taking place in South Africa this week. Around 15 heads of state are expected in Johannesburg this weekend, including those from Brazil, India, Turkey. Several European presidents or prime ministers are also set to attend, as well as Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Chinas President Xi Jinping will not attend and is sending Premier Li Qiang in his place, the Bloomberg report said.

Sticking points in the talks include wording on gender and climate issues, according to people familiar with the discussions. Argentina, a close ally of the US, has pushed back on references to both climate finance and global climate accords, the people said.

Amid the growing tensions between Pretoria and Washington, the Trump administration has slapped 30 per cent tariffs on South African exports  the highest on the continent  souring relations between the two countries further.

South Africas foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, told the Bloomberg Africa Business Summit on Tuesday that Pretoria had repeatedly sought to repair the relationship. We have always been open  the aggression is on the side of the US, he said.

President Bola Tinubu was scheduled to have travelled for the event yesterday before he abruptly postponed his movement over the recent rise in insecurity in the Northern part of the country.