United States President Donald Trump announced that the country will be boycotting the Group of 20 summit this year in South Africa, citing the country’s treatment of white farmers.
Trump had already announced that he would not attend, and Vice President JD Vance would go in his place. Since then, a person familiar with Vance’s plans said he also would not be attending.
In a post to Truth Social, Trump said it was a “disgrace” that the G20 would be hosted in South Africa, citing the “abuse” of Afrikaers.
“Afrikaners (People who are descended from Dutch settlers, and also French and German immigrants) are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated,” he said.
“No U.S. Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.”
The Trump administration has accused the South African government of allowing minority white Afrikaner farmers to be persecuted and attacked.
None of South Africa’s parties claims there is genocide in the country, and its foreign ministry described the decision by the White House as “regrettable”.
A spokesperson for the South African foreign ministry, Chrispin Phiri, told BBC News that there was “absolutely no evidence of white persecution in South Africa”.
“South Africa does have its problems and we are dealing with those. I think crime affects everyone, regardless of their race,” he said.
"We will move on without the United States," he said.
Trump has previously said South Africa should not be in the G20 at all.
The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis. The nations involved have more than 85% of the world's wealth, and they aimed to restore economic stability.
The first leaders' meeting was held in 2008 following that year’s financial turmoil, and now leaders get together every year to discuss the international economy and issues countries are facing.
