Professor Christopher Isike told participants at the ACCPA-ISPS (South Sudan) Post-G20 Reflections webinar that “Africa’s entry into the G20 marks a necessary but insufficient condition for transforming global governance,” a warning against complacency in the face of celebration. For all the symbolism of Africa’s presence at the world’s premier economic forum, true influence, the kind that changes global rules and norms depends on agenda-shifting, coalition building, and outcome-driven diplomacy rather than mere participation.
South Africa’s leadership of the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where Africa’s collective voice was formally recognised within the G20 process, was historic. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, South Africa successfully brought African priorities, such as debt relief, climate finance, infrastructure investment, and energy transition into the global spotlight. These priorities reflect Africa’s developmental needs and are aligned with longer-term frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Africa’s role in the G20 has improved its visibility. But visibility must translate into tangible leverage. A key challenge remains the fragmentation of African voices and priorities across different international arenas. Consolidating a coherent agenda that reflects the diversity of African states and aligning it with global power structures is central to advancing collective influence.
To bridge the gap between inclusion and influence, Professor Isike proposes institutional reforms. One such recommendation is completing financial reforms and clarifying the division of labour between the AU and Regional Economic Communities.
The shift from participation to influence also plays out in how African states cultivate strategic bilateral and multilateral relationships that support global governance objectives.
At the regional level, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have emphasised inclusive governance and peace as foundations for sustainable policy engagement. Their joint efforts in South Sudan, aimed at consolidating peace, advancing national unity, and building institutional capacity, reflect the understanding that effective internal governance strengthens Africa’s diplomatic leverage internationally.
Africa’s G20 membership is an important milestone in a broader diplomatic journey. But as Prof. Isike reminds us, this is an early chapter in a much longer narrative – one in which agenda shifting, coalition building, and outcome-oriented diplomacy are essential tools for shaping not only Africa’s future, but the future of global governance itself.
