President Ramaphosa Closes Historic G20 Summit With Call for Global Unity, Justice and Inclusive Growth

Johannesburg, South Africa – 23 November 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa brought the G20 Leaders Summit to a powerful close in Johannesburg on Sunday, delivering an impassioned call for strengthened global cooperation, urgent action on shared challenges, and the centring of Africa’s development in the world’s economic agenda.

The 2025 Summit, historic as the first G20 Presidency hosted on African soil, concluded with a strong show of unity, culminating in the adoption of the G20 South Africa Summit Leaders’ Declaration. President Ramaphosa hailed the agreement as evidence of the G20’s continued relevance as “the premier forum for international economic cooperation.”

Addressing Heads of State, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, leaders of international organisations, ministers and invited guests, President Ramaphosa expressed deep gratitude for the support shown to South Africa throughout its Presidency. He noted that despite major global upheavals, leaders had demonstrated the ability to come together “even in times of great difficulty to pursue a better world.”

Africa at the Centre

In a year where global challenges tested the resilience of nations, Ramaphosa made it clear that Africa’s place in global development was non-negotiable.

“The greatest opportunity for prosperity in the 21st century lies in Africa,” he declared, emphasising that realising this opportunity requires robust partnerships between Africa and the G20.

South Africa’s Presidency placed the continent’s priorities firmly on the agenda, building on the developmental thrust set by Indonesia, India and Brazil during previous G20 cycles. This included pushing for reform of global financial systems, improved access to climate finance, and a stronger voice for the Global South in global governance.

Tackling Global Inequality and Debt

The President highlighted deepening global inequality and unsustainable debt levels as serious obstacles to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He welcomed the G20 pledge to extend support to low- and middle-income nations facing debt vulnerabilities, noting that global prosperity hinges on “a virtuous cycle of reduced debt, higher public investment and more rapid and inclusive economic growth.”

Climate Action and Disaster Resilience

Climate change and disaster resilience featured prominently in Ramaphosa’s closing remarks.

He underscored that climate-induced disasters hit developing countries the hardest, reaffirming South Africa’s call for scaled-up post-disaster reconstruction and risk reduction efforts. The Presidency introduced the High-Level Voluntary Principles for Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction, aimed at strengthening global collaboration in prevention and response.

The President also welcomed progress on mobilising finance for just energy transitions, especially for developing nations, saying the G20 had pledged to “increase the quality and quantity of climate finance and unlock private capital to support low-carbon transitions.”

Critical Minerals, Energy Security and Global Transformation

Ramaphosa highlighted the G20’s endorsement of the Critical Minerals Framework, a cooperative blueprint to ensure these resources drive sustainable development rather than deepen inequality.

He further reaffirmed the G20’s commitment to universal energy access, energy security and affordability, noting that equitable transitions remain a central focus for South Africa and many developing economies.

G20@20 Review and Multilateral Cooperation

Marking the end of the first cycle of G20 Presidencies, the South African Presidency led the G20@20 Review as mandated at the 2024 Rio Summit.

Ramaphosa expressed hope that its recommendations would guide the G20 in remaining “fit for purpose” amid rapid global changes, reiterating the importance of multilateralism.

“Our shared goals outweigh our differences,” he said, thanking leaders for agreeing on a joint declaration, a symbolic and substantive victory for global cooperation.

A Call to Action: Building a Just and Prosperous World

In one of his most compelling appeals, Ramaphosa urged leaders not to lose momentum after the summit:

“We have laid the foundation of solidarity; now we must build the walls of justice and the roof of prosperity.”

He called for accelerated action toward the 2030 SDGs and the Pact for the Future, stressing that global crises, from poverty to climate change, demand bold, collective solutions.

Closing his address, the President emphasised the importance of humanity and partnership:

“Through partnerships across society, and by remembering our common humanity, we can create a more secure, a more just and a more prosperous world. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind.”

The 2025 G20 Summit ended with renewed global commitment, a strengthened African voice on the world stage, and a united call for justice, peace, and sustainable development for all.