LUSAKA, Zambia
Angolan President Joao Lourenco will represent the African Union (AU) at a two-day G20 summit which kicks off in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Lourenco, who currently holds the rotational role of AU chairperson, will convey Africa’s common position in seeking sustainable solutions for the continent’s development issues, focusing on the ability to unite around common goals.
“Lourenco is expected to reiterate statements he made regarding the urgent need to reform international financial institutions and the current financial architecture. Specifically, these institutions have been urged to become more representative, inclusive, and capable of meeting the immense needs of developing countries, especially those in Africa,” the Angola Press Agency reported Friday.
The statement contradicts report hours earlier from local media, which cited the presidency that it said that Lourenco would not be in Johannesburg for "reasons of greater force."
The historic summit is the first of its kind to be held on African soil as South Africa reaffirmed its readiness to host world leaders who mostly arrived Friday.
Among the highlight arrivals in Johannesburg were Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived Thursday.
US President Donald Trump announced a boycott, which marks the culmination of South Africa's G20 presidency from December 2024 and would bring together 42 countries, including the 20 G20 members, 16 invited countries and six regional bloc states representing Africa, the Caribbean and East Asia.