South Africa Rejects US Request To Attend Handover Ceremony Of G20 Presidency Amid Tensions

Last Updated:November 23, 2025, 16:38 IST

The US boycotted the G20 Summit over allegations of discriminatory policies that have heightened tensions, but did not impact the success of the multilateral event.

Leaders of G20 countries pose for a family photo.

South Africa has decided not to attend an official ceremony to hand over the annual G20 presidency to a junior official at the end of the leaders’ summit, after a White House official cautioned South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over “running his mouth" against the US and President Donald Trump.

As per reports, the South African government said that as the US sent a delegation lower than the head of state, it will also send a delegation lower than a head of state to hand over the G20 presidency gavel, amid Washington’s boycott of the event over claims of discriminatory policies in South Africa.

Ramaphosa “will not be handing over to the charge d’affaires from the US," Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told journalists. “The United States is a member of the G20, and if they want to be represented, they can still send anyone at the right level," he said.

On Saturday, South African government spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the country will not bend the rules for any nation, highlighting the need to respect all participating members. “The President will not handover to a junior embassy official. It’s a breach of protocol that is not going to be accommodated or allowed in this instance," he said.

This decision stems from the fact that such a handover has never occurred in G20 history and would set an unwelcome precedent. Despite a boycott, the US requested a symbolic handover to a lower-ranking diplomat, which South Africa rejected on the basis of a protocol violation.

South Africa currently holds the G20 presidency under the forum’s rotating chairmanship. Next year, the US will preside over the group, and Trump has plans to hold the summit in Miami, Florida.

‘Running His Mouth…’

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sparked outrage when she said that the US would not participate in the official talks at the Group of 20 summit in South Africa, and used disrespectful language while referring to Ramaphosa.

““The United States is not participating in official talks at the G20 in South Africa. I saw the South African President running his mouth a little bit against the United States and @POTUS… and that language is not appreciated by @POTUS and his team," Leavitt said.

This came after Ramaphosa said that the United States had indicated that it had a “change of mind" over its boycott at the “11th hour." Earlier this month, the US President said he would not be attending the 2025 G20 Summit, claiming the country “shouldn’t even be in the Gs anymore."

Trump announced this month that no US government official would attend the two-day meeting of world leaders from rich and developing countries in South Africa’s biggest city. Trump cited his claims that South Africa is violently persecuting the country’s white Afrikaner minority farmers as the reason for the US boycott. Those statements by Trump have been widely rejected by South Africa.

Ramaphosa previously expressed disappointment that the US boycott would mean that he hands over to an “empty chair" at the end of the summit.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-day visit to the Republic of South Africa on Friday and participated in the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, where he suggested several ground-breaking initiatives to boost global development.

News world South Africa Rejects US Request To Attend Handover Ceremony Of G20 Presidency Amid Tensions

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