South African leader calls on US to reconsider G20 boycott
“It is unfortunate that the United States has decided not to attend the G20. All I can say in my experience in politics is that boycotts never really work. They have a very contradictory effect,” Ramaphosa told reporters.
He emphasized that South Africa will proceed with the summit regardless of the US absence. “The G20 will go on. All other heads of state will be here, and in the end, we will take fundamental decisions and their absence is their loss,” he said.
The US announced it will not send officials to the summit, citing alleged human rights abuses against the white Afrikaner population, claims that South Africa has repeatedly denied as unsubstantiated.
Ramaphosa noted that he had encouraged the US to participate, stressing the value of engagement. “Boycotting never achieves anything of great impact because decisions will be taken that will move the various issues ahead. Our priorities will be decided on. For instance, the cost of capital issue will be embraced by all. The theme that we have -- inclusiveness, diversity, solidarity -- is being embraced by the world, including the Pope, whom I met recently,” he said.
He concluded by advising the US to reconsider. “The US needs to think again whether boycott politics actually works, because in my experience, it doesn’t work. It’s better to be inside the tent rather than being outside the tent.”
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