US snubs key G20 Agriculture meeting in South Africa
Just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Washington aimed at repairing diplomatic ties, the United States was notably absent from the G20 meeting
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Media
Just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Washington, aimed at repairing diplomatic ties, the United States was notably absent from the G20 meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists in Limpopo on Monday.
Last week, Ramaphosa and his delegation met US President Donald Trump at the White House in hopes of mending strained relations and boosting trade between the two nations.
During the meeting, Trump showed a video falsely claiming it depicted a mass grave for white farmers. He also played clips of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and others singing the struggle song "Kill the Boer," which he claimed was evidence that white farmers were being persecuted in South Africa.
After the meeting, Ramaphosa said the meeting went well and expressed hope that Trump would attend the G20 summit in South Africa in December.
"President Trump agreed that the US should continue playing a key role in the G20, including attending the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg later this year, where South Africa will hand over the presidency of the G20 to the US," Ramaphosa said.
Trump and the US have previously vowed that they will not be attending the G20 summit in South Africa later this year, because of the false claims that white farmers were being persecuted in the country.
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During the G20 meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists in Limpopo on Monday, the US did not send a delegation.
The gathering brought together representatives from member nations to discuss key global challenges, including climate change, food security, and the advancement of agricultural research and innovation systems.
In an interview with the SABC on Monday, Limpopo's Agriculture and Rural Development Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi confirmed that the US was not present at the event, adding that they were not given a reason for the absence.
'First of all, the USA is part and parcel of the troika that is leading in terms of G20, in Brazil. SA is the presidency, and also the US," he said.
"We've not been given the reasons in terms of non-participation. But what we have here is a full house in terms of the G20 members except the US. And we've got also invited countries. International organisations and African research institutions are here. All of them looking at one thing only, to ensure that food security and agriculture are advanced.' he added.
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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