Five things to know about the first G20 held in Africa

Leaders of the world’s largest economies meet in Johannesburg on November 22 and 23 for the G20 summit, being held for the first time in Africa.

Here are five things to know about the annual meeting, which is taking place at a time of heightened global instability and tensions between Pretoria and Washington.

– First in Africa –

Founded in 1999, the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies comprises 19 countries and two regional bodies — the European Union and the African Union (AU).

With its rotating presidency held by South Africa this year, the summit will be in Africa for the first time.

G20 members represent 85 percent of the world’s GDP and about two-thirds of its population.

South Africa is the only member state from the continent, although the AU was admitted as a group in 2023.