December 17, 2025
The 109th ASC Seminar “An African G20 or a G20 in Africa: A preliminary overview of South Africa’s G20 Presidency”
109_ASCSeminar_Eng.ver.pdfThe 109th ASC Seminar will feature a talk by Dr. Tawanda Sachikonye on "An African G20 or a G20 in Africa: A preliminary overview of South Africa's G20 Presidency"
The seminar will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation via Zoom as well. Please be sure to register in advance.
Title: "An African G20 or a G20 in Africa: A preliminary overview of South Africa's G20 Presidency"
Abstract: This presentation seeks to provide a perceptive and informed overview of South Africa's 2025 G20 Presidency. South Africa's leadership of the G20 marks a significant historic landmark as it is the first time an African country has chaired the G20 forum since its inception in 1999. A special emphasis will be placed on evaluating the extent to which South Africa's G20 Presidency has provided a uniquely 'African' G20. In this regard, the recent accession of the African Union (AU) as a formal member of the G20 framework is particularly noteworthy. Furthermore, South Africa's G20 marks the end of an eventful cycle of Global South G20 leadership; during which Indonesia (2022), India (2023), and Brazil (2024) have strongly advocated for greater inclusion and representation of developing countries within global economic governance and finance institutions.
The presentation will also explore how South Africa has sought to advocate for the African "developmental agenda" whilst also trying to consolidate broader South-South and North-South (including enhanced Japan-South Africa partnership) multilateral cooperation within a fraught and challenging international context. Ultimately, the presentation will attempt to assess what the legacy of South Africa's G20 might be in terms of:
amplifying the AU's voice within global economic governance forums;
adequately addressing Africa's increasingly adverse and unsustainable debt levels;
ensuring that Africa's pressing human capital needs are firmly placed on the G20's agenda going forward;
challenges (including how the incoming G20 Chair, the United States, has opposed South Africa's G20 leadership); and
ordinary African citizens' perception of South Africa's historic G20 Presidency.
Keywords: South Africa, G20 Presidency, African, African Union, debt, human capital, global economic governance, multilateral cooperation.
◆Speaker: Dr. Tawanda Sachikonye（ Research consultant for the Southern African Liaison Office (SALO), South Africa）
Bio-note: Dr Tawanda Sachikonye obtained his PhD in Political Studies at the University of Cape Town. As a foreign policy expert and international relations researcher, he has conducted research on South Africa's trade and economic diplomacy, South Africa's relations with Zimbabwe; South Africa's role within the region and continent; as well as South Africa's engagements at the United Nations Security Council. Moreover, he has thirteen years' experience dealing with civil society engagements pertaining to South African foreign policy advocacy.
◆Date：Wednesday, December 17th, 2025/ 5:40p.m.～7:10p.m.（JST） 8:40a.m.～10:10a.m.（GMT)◆Venue：Hybrid・Onsite Room103（1F Research and lecture bldg.,TUFS Fuchu Campus）＆ Online（ZoomMeeting）・Access：https://www.tufs.ac.jp/abouttufs/contactus/access.html◆Language：English◆Addmission fee：FREEPlease pre-register in advence from here. Or Use QR Code.
Registration deadline: Noon December 17th, 2025 (Wed)The Zoom link will be sent after you pre-registerd.
◆Jointly organized by African Studies Center - TUFS and Kanto Branch of Japan Association for African Studies
ASC Seminars
