Overview
- President Donald Trump has ordered a full U.S. boycott of the Nov. 22–23 Johannesburg summit, citing alleged persecution of white Afrikaners that South African officials and independent data dispute.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa called the U.S. absence “their loss” and said the meeting will go ahead, as AU chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UN chief António Guterres confirmed they will attend.
- China’s Foreign Ministry said President Xi Jinping will not travel to Johannesburg and that Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the leaders’ meeting.
- Argentina’s president Javier Milei will stay away, with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno set to attend in his place.
- Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said preparations and security are on track after 130 preparatory meetings, while Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola rejected “white genocide” claims and U.S. officials criticized the summit’s “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” theme.