South Africa has been “uninvited” to the upcoming 49th G7 summit in Japan next month.
This can be interpreted as a snub to South Africa, a regular attendee.
“The Japanese government, which is hosting the G7, decided for its version of the summit to invite the AU [African Union] instead of individual countries from Africa. The president of Comoros [Azali Assoumani], who is the chair, will attend the G7 plus meetings and not South Africa,” the Presidency said.
Asked why South Africa was excluded, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya declined to comment.
The summit will take place in Hiroshima from May 19 to 21.
In June last year, Ramaphosa participated in the G7 summit at the invitation of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Germany.
According to an invitation sent on March 29, Ramaphosa was expected to participate in the 49th G7 summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
At the time Magwenya said: “South Africa has been a regular invitee of the G7 and its participation presents an opportunity for the country to highlight the concerns of developing countries and to advocate for continued global attention for equitable distribution of resources.”
Ramaphosa and a government delegation were expected to participate in a number of outreach sessions.
According to the Presidency, the G7 was established in 1975 after the financial crisis brought about by the 1973 oil crisis. It was intended to co-ordinate global economic and financial policy.
Meetings were initially attended by the finance ministers of France, Germany, Japan, the US and the UK.
They were later joined by Canada and Italy at a presidential level to form the G7.
International relations expert Sphamandla Zondi said the decision to exclude South Africa is a “tricky idea” but a “wise” one.
“The G7 summit host has decided not to choose which African countries are significant to it, which is a tricky idea that can offend those not chosen. Japan has comprehensive partnerships with Africa, but it’s being outboxed by the EU, China, US and Turkey in the race for relations with Africa.”
Zondi said it “makes sense” why Japan “decided not to offend a single African country but invite the continent as one”.
“This is wise and good. The AU is the custodian of our collective ideals and plans and it must promote the seven aspirations in the African Agenda 2063 and get the G7 countries to commit to supporting this.
“South Africa should be happy the continent is being engaged on multilateral terms rather than handpicking individual countries. Not choosing South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana [or] Egypt to represent Africa at the G7 sometimes should not offend these countries.”
“What gives them [big African states] the right to think they represent 55 countries without a process of election or nomination? It would be arrogance if they thought they, rather than the AU, must represent Africa.”
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