Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Johannesburg on Friday for a G20 summit overshadowed by a high-profile boycott from the United States and growing questions about Canada’s long-term approach to Africa. The summit marks Carney’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as prime minister and the first G20 meeting ever held on the African continent.
Carney’s agenda comes at a delicate moment. Washington has chosen not to send senior officials to the summit, with U.S. President Donald Trump accusing South Africa of permitting anti-white violence — claims South African officials have strongly dismissed as false. The leaders of Russia, China, Mexico and Argentina are also absent, creating the largest number of no-shows in G20 history.
Still, experts say the unusual dynamic could create space for deeper, more focused discussions among leaders who are attending. “Without Trump at the table to dominate the private discussions… the deliberations could be more focused, detailed and consensus-creating,” said John Kirton of the G20 Research Group.
Canada has identified five priorities for the summit: strengthening critical-mineral supply chains, using AI for sustainable development, improving resilience to natural disasters, advancing reforms to global development and debt structures, and promoting gender equality through economic growth. Several priorities echo themes from the former Liberal government’s feminist foreign policy.
Carney is expected to meet leaders from France, Germany, Norway, the U.K., and likely Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and will take part in discussions on how the EU could engage with the CPTPP trade bloc. His arrival also coincided with Canada’s announcement that it will reduce support for the Global Fund, one of the largest health partnerships fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria — a move that has sparked concern among policy observers.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is chairing the summit, has made global inequality a central theme. A report commissioned by his government warns rising economic polarization is fuelling resentment and instability worldwide, reinforcing the need for inclusive growth and fairer development financing.
Carney’s visit comes amid renewed scrutiny of Canada’s Africa strategy, introduced by the previous Trudeau government after years of delay and without any dedicated funding. Canada’s special envoy for Africa, Ben Marc Diendéré, recently told senators the strategy is struggling to gain traction. “I had to fight to get people to say the word ‘Africa.’ That is troubling,” he said. “At the moment, we are limited.”
Analysts say Canada risks falling further behind competitors — including China — in shaping economic and diplomatic relationships across Africa. David Hornsby, a Carleton University professor specialising in Canadian-African engagement, said Global Affairs Canada still lacks a strong grasp of the continent’s diverse needs. “We have not traditionally gone to our African partners and said, ‘What makes sense to you?’” he noted.
Others argue Canada must rebuild the deeper political and economic ties it held from the 1950s to the 1990s, when it played a key role in supporting newly independent African states. That means expanding beyond mining and aid toward broader trade and investment partnerships.
South Africa’s High Commissioner to Canada, Rieaz Shaik, highlighted enduring goodwill between the two countries, noting Canada’s historic role in opposing apartheid and helping craft South Africa’s democratic constitution. He said both nations are discussing a new agreement to deepen bilateral trade and investment. “We ended apartheid on consensus — and we learned all of that from Canada,” he said.
With several world leaders absent, observers say Carney’s expertise as a former UN envoy and central banker may help him forge progress anyway. “He knows these leaders,” said Janice Stein of the Munk School of Global Affairs. “There is an actual advantage that he brings to this.”