The world’s attention this week will be split between Davos — where government leaders and business executives gather to discuss the future of the global economy — and Washington, DC, for US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
In Davos, Africa watchers will be paying close attention to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will showcase his country’s G20 presidency this year, while DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi will unveil a major conservation initiative.
The presidents of Botswana and Somalia, the King of Lesotho, as well as Egypt’s prime minister and Nigeria’s vice president will also be in attendance, together with more than 40 ministers from various African countries.
There’s a sense that even with a major disruption to US politics, the day-to-day reality for most of Africa’s interactions with Washington will not change dramatically. “But this week is an opportunity to platform African issues at the highest level, that’s where much of the energy will be,” Chido Munyati, the Africa head of the World Economic Forum.
This is an excellent opportunity for our delegation to amplify the message that South Africa is a jurisdiction that matters and a market that has a lot to offer by showcasing the success of our business-government partnership and other achievements and reinforcing our commitment to building a more inclusive and resilient economy.
