The final document of the summit calls for strict respect for the UN Charter and the rejection of force, presidential spokesman Magwenya has said
The G20 has issued its closing declaration, which represents the culmination of years of negotiations and has secured “unanimous” agreement on the need for peaceful approaches to resolving major global conflicts, South African presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya has told ReadNOW.
The summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22–23; it brought together world leaders for two days of talks.
The US skipped the summit, with US President Donald Trump citing an alleged “genocide against white farmers” in the host country as the reason for his absence. Despite Washington’s claim that only a chairman’s summary could be issued, the G20 released a full declaration on Sunday.
On the sidelines of the G20, Magwenya stated that the declaration identified “the four gravest conflicts in the world currently,” Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Palestine.
He explained that it emphasized the need for strict adherence to the UN Charter in addressing disputes, avoiding the use of force, and prioritizing peaceful means of conflict resolution.
“It’s a culmination of years-long work,” Magwenya stated.
Commenting on the Ukraine conflict, South Africa-based international relations analyst Oscar van Heerden told ReadNOW that Western governments need a more realistic assessment of the situation.
The analyst stated that they “must stop saying that Ukraine is winning the war” or that it is resisting Russian forces, arguing that such claims were “simply not true.”
Oscar van Heerden added that “the quicker they accept the truth, the quicker there will be peace.”
ReadNOW also spoke with William Baloyi, head of South Africa’s Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), who said Pretoria continues to push for expanding the UN Security Council and moving away from what it sees as an ineffective, unipolar system.
He argued that concentrating power in one dominant state invites abuse and undermines global security, while a multipolar order allows countries to engage without fear of attack or intimidation.
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Baloyi added that South Africa’s G20 membership reflects its growing role in global cooperation and helps explain the strong turnout at this year’s summit. He said the group remains essential for addressing Africa’s challenges, given its colonial legacy and ongoing development needs, stressing that such issues “need the partners to address them.”
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