President Cyril Ramaphosa formally concluded South Africa’s G20 presidency on Sunday, marking the end of the country’s historic tenure with a symbolic handover of the ceremonial gavel to the United States — despite the absence of any US representative.
The moment came at the close of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, where Ramaphosa affirmed South Africa’s commitment to advancing the priorities of Africa and the broader Global South throughout its presidency, a central theme of the 2025 G20 agenda.
According to News24, the symbolic transfer took place at the Nasrec Expo Centre, where Ramaphosa declared the summit closed and announced the US as the incoming G20 president.
Though the gesture typically marks a direct passing of leadership, no US delegation was present to receive the gavel after Washington opted not to send officials to the summit.
The absence drew attention from fellow leaders, with one asking publicly, “Where is the United States?” Ramaphosa responded, “They are not here.”
The US boycott stemmed from President Donald Trump’s decision, announced two weeks before the summit, that no American officials would attend.
In remarks to Daily Maverick, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the US explanation as “unacceptable and unfounded”, referencing Trump’s claim that white Afrikaners in South Africa were being “killed and slaughtered” and their farms “illegally confiscated”.
Støre said the absence was particularly notable since the US is set to assume the G20 presidency next.
Despite the diplomatic gap, the closing moments featured broad recognition from world leaders of South Africa’s stewardship.
Leaders including Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva congratulated Ramaphosa.
Lula, standing beside Ramaphosa, joked that he would personally “take” the gavel to the US, cutting into the unusual nature of the absent handover.
South Africa declined the US’ last-minute request for its chargé d’affaires, Marc Dillard, to receive the presidency on Sunday, instead insisting the formal transfer take place in Pretoria during the following week.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola told News24 that South Africa wanted the exchange handled by an official of “appropriate equal equivalent” status, after deeming Dillard too junior for the ceremonial handover.
In his closing remarks, Ramaphosa reflected on the significance of hosting the G20 on African soil for the first time.
He reiterated South Africa’s intention to elevate the concerns of low-income and developing nations, emphasising issues such as inequality, climate change, and disaster resilience.
He noted that the Leaders’ Declaration adopted at the summit represented the collective commitment of member nations to work toward inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
Støre echoed the importance of these themes, telling Daily Maverick that global inequality remains one of the most pressing concerns facing the international community.
Norway participated in all G20 meetings throughout the year, and Støre said Ramaphosa had “carried through this G20 presidency in a year of major pressure on the international framework”.
He added that despite the US absence at both the G20 and COP30 in Brazil weeks earlier, member nations still managed to reach consensus on key issues.
As Ramaphosa struck the gavel and closed the summit, he thanked participating nations for reaffirming the G20’s role in global cooperation.
The formal handover to the US is expected to take place in Pretoria, bringing South Africa’s presidency to its official conclusion while setting the stage for the next chapter of G20 leadership.
