Overview
- President Cyril Ramaphosa said a leaders' declaration will be adopted at the two‑day summit opening Saturday, rejecting U.S. warnings and saying South Africa will not be bullied.
- The Trump administration confirmed no U.S. officials will attend and urged that only a chair’s statement be issued, a stance South Africa denounced as “coercion by absentia.”
- Ramaphosa said talks are underway about possible U.S. participation in some form, even as Washington maintains its boycott over disputed claims about the treatment of Afrikaners.
- More than 40 delegations are expected, with India’s Narendra Modi attending and China’s Li Qiang and Russia sending envoys; EU leaders and U.N. Secretary‑General António Guterres plan to take part.
- Authorities deployed 3,500 extra police, put the army on standby, designated protest zones and airport “speakers’ corners,” and warned of road closures as groups including Women For Change plan actions on Friday.