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Consulting

Ramaphosa says US discussing coming to G20 in South Africa, White House denies

South Africa’s president said on Thursday the U.S. had signalled it might change its mind and participate in the G20 summit in Johannesburg after a boycott by the Trump administration, but the White House dismissed the report as “fake news.”
Cyril Ramaphosa was speaking at a joint news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
“We have received notice from the United States, a notice which we are still in discussions with them over, about a change of mind, about participating in one shape or form or other in the summit,” he said.
“This comes in the days before the summit. And so therefore we need to engage in those types of discussions to see how practical it is and what it finally really means.”
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration had said it will not attend the first G20 summit in Africa, alleging that the host country, previously ruled by its white minority apartheid system until 1994, discriminates against white people.
On Thursday, a White House official said an envoy would attend a ceremony for the official handover of the G20 presidency from South Africa to the U.S. but there was no question of Washington participating.
“This is fake news. The chargé d’affaires in Pretoria will attend the handover ceremony as a formality, but the United States is not joining G20 discussions,” they added.
But South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said “the president will not hand over to a chargé d’affaires.”
Trump has rejected South Africa’s agenda for the November 22-23 summit of promoting solidarity and helping developing nations adapt to worse weather disasters, transition to clean energy and cut their excessive debt costs.
Ramaphosa said last week of the handover of the G20 presidency to the United States: “I don’t want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there.”
 
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Consulting

Accelerating Africa’s digital revolution to boost jobs and growth

What if Africa’s greatest wealth was not its minerals, its oil, or its land, but rather its youth? With 60 percent of its population under the age of 25, the continent is brimming with energy, creativity, and potential. Yet, in a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), millions of young Africans remain disconnected, not by choice, but due to a lack of opportunity.

This is not just a missed opportunity. It’s a call to action.

Africa is at a pivotal moment in its journey of digital transformation. By 2030, Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to generate 230 million digital jobs, driven by the rapid expansion of digital services. 

So the potential is huge, but the question is: How do we unlock it?

Bridging the digital divide

In 2024, internet penetration in Africa reached 40 percent, up from 3.2 percent in 2005. Today, more than 600 million people on the continent use mobile broadband internet. Despite progress, more than 900 million people remain offline, and 76 percent face a “usage gap”. They live in areas covered by the network but lack the means or skills to access digital services. In rural areas, access is only 28 percent.

Bridging the digital divide is a social as well as an economic imperative. Digitalization is democratizing access to education, health, financial services, and markets. It reduces inequality, empowers communities, and creates millions of jobs. The arrival of international submarine cables and mobile broadband internet has already expanded labor force participation and raised incomes in several African countries. The spillover effects on agriculture, industry, and tourism can be profoundly transformative.

Translating local successes into a regional norm

In West and Central Africa, there are many real-world successes that show us what’s possible. In Benin, for example, more than 250 public services are now accessible online, 68 municipalities have been connected to fiber optics and mobile coverage reaches 92 percent of the territory. Community-based training programs have helped thousands of people learn digital skills. Awa, a high school student, can now access online learning and mentorship platforms, opening opportunities for herself and her community in education, entrepreneurship, and citizenship.

These successes need not be exceptions. They must become the norm across the region if we are to strengthen digital inclusion in a sustainable way. Despite growing coverage, nearly 700 million Africans still do not use the internet. The reason is clear: access alone is not enough. We need to go beyond that by making data affordable, services relevant, and strengthening digital education.

A pivotal moment for digital transformation

As leaders, decision-makers, the private sector, and civil society groups gather in Cotonou, Benin, on November 17-18, 2025, for the Regional Summit on Digital Transformation in West and Central Africa, the themes of the usage gap, opportunities linked to AI, and the single digital market will be at the heart of the discussions.

The African AI market, estimated to be worth $2 billion by 2025, is driven by startups and the adoption of optimization applications and consumer-facing services. But the goal must not only be adoption, it must also be about adaptation and creation. Ethical and local solutions, tailored to African needs, are already emerging. Benin is deploying AI in agriculture, health, education, and public services, including a Fon language speech recognition model to improve access for rural and elderly populations. Many innovations are underway in African countries, illustrating the continent’s dynamism and potential in digital technologies.

To amplify these innovations, we also need investments in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, in basic infrastructure, and in enabling regulatory frameworks.

The African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) lays out a roadmap toward a harmonized digital marketplace, unlocking the potential of e-commerce, cross-border payments, and digital exchanges. Africa’s e-commerce market, estimated to be worth more than $50 billion in 2024, is expected to grow by at least 10 percent annually. Realizing this potential requires regional connectivity, cross-border data flows, interoperable platforms, and supportive regulations, including cybersecurity and data protection.

Building a vibrant digital ecosystem for jobs and growth

The Cotonou summit will be an opportunity to renew our commitment to inclusive digital progress, which includes closing the digital divide, developing AI capabilities, and creating digital jobs in West and Central Africa through accelerated digitization and deeper regional integration.

These are ambitious but achievable goals. Through collective action, we can build an inclusive, innovative, and resilient digital future. Governments and their partners, including the World Bank, the private sector, and civil society, are forging new partnerships and mobilizing investments, including through digital compacts. 

The summit will ensure that everyone has a voice: governments to lead on needed reforms, the private sector to invest in innovation and infrastructure, and youth to be creative and resilient.

Let’s seize this moment to accelerate digital transformation and move forward with each step of the way. The continent’s future is digital, shaped by AI. Let’s build it together for our sub-region.

This piece was originally published in French in Jeune Afrique.

 

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Consulting

South African FM expresses readiness to host G20 leaders

South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola speaks during a press conference on preparations ahead of Saturday’s Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 17, 2025.

With just five days to go before the Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit, South Africa is fully prepared to welcome world leaders to Johannesburg, South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said Monday.

Briefing journalists on preparations ahead of Saturday’s Summit, Lamola said everything remained “on track,” with 42 countries having confirmed their participation.

Lamola emphasized that South Africa’s role as the first African country to host the G20 has helped elevate African perspectives on the global stage, placing issues of inclusivity and inequality firmly in the spotlight.

Lamola said negotiations on the South African Declaration had already begun, expressing hope that a final declaration could be reached.

All G20 member states, excluding the United States, would be represented, according to the minister. The gathering will also include 16 guest countries and six countries representing Regional Economic Communities from Africa, the Caribbean, and East Asia.

Lamola also provided details about the three sessions that will take place over the two-day Summit, namely “inclusive and sustainable economic growth”, “building a resilient world”, and “a fair and just future for all.” Discussions will span a wide range of issues, including trade, development finance, the global debt challenge, climate change, food systems, the just transition, critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence.

Lamola said the country was confident that its G20 Presidency would leave a positive and enduring legacy. “It is our firm belief that the outcomes of the South African Summit will be ambitious and leave a lasting legacy for the cause of the African continent and the Global South beyond South Africa’s historic G20 Presidency,” he said.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit is set to be held at the Nasrec Expo Center in Johannesburg, from Saturday to Sunday. 

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Consulting

‘Our greatest asset’ — Alistair Ruiters is hot favourite to be SA’s next ambassador to US

Alistair Ruiters, widely tipped to become South Africa’s next ambassador to the United States, would have better access to the US government than anyone else yet suggested for the job, say insiders. He is already acting as SA’s chief trade negotiator with the US.

Ruiters (61), President Cyril Ramaphosa’s investment adviser since April and a former director-general of trade and industry, seems to be enjoying widening support across different sectors of South Africa to get the toughest job in South African diplomacy — that of “normalising” SA relations with the cantankerous Trump administration.

The job has been glaringly vacant since the previous incumbent, former Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled by the Trump administration in March, barely three months into the job, for suggesting in a public webinar that Trump was a white supremacist.

Ramaphosa has been under growing pressure since then to fill the vacant but critical post in Washington as relations with the US continue to falter.

Ramaphosa’s appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy after Rasool’s expulsion also went sour after Jonas was belatedly found to have made insulting remarks about Trump in a public video in 2016. The Trump administration has refused to grant him a diplomatic visa, considerably hampering his mission.

The support for Ruiters, who also has business experience, appears to extend from at least parts of the SA government, through the Democratic Alliance and SA’s business community and into the US government, where he has already made a good impression, according to Washington sources.

Ruiters is already acting as South Africa’s de facto chief trade negotiator with the US, it has emerged, and seems to have impressed the Americans as a no-nonsense technocrat who gets on with the job.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde sat down with Ruiters at SA’s embassy in Washington this month when Winde was on a mission to try to save Western Cape exports to the US. Winde was clearly impressed.

He told Daily Maverick that Ruiters was “probably our biggest asset right now… He’s building relationships. He’s filling a massive void. He’s filled that gap. And, I mean, it’s just the biggest economy in the world. Come on, guys,” Winde said.

“This should be on the priority list right at the top. Get agreement and get an ambassador.”

Winde added that he had suggested Ruiters for the job.

Top South African businessman Martin Kingston, the executive chair of Rothschild and Co SA and chair of the steering committee of Business 4 South Africa (B4SA), agreed: “I think he would be a good choice. He’s proved himself both in the public sector and the private sector. In my experience, he’s pragmatic and thoughtful, professional and seasoned. He clearly has the confidence of the President and has demonstrated a good understanding of the issues confronting the US-SA relationship.”

An economic analyst who has worked with Ruiters but did not wish to be named agreed: “I think he is a good choice. I did work with Alistair when he was DG [director-general] of dtic [Department of Trade, Industry and Cooperation]. I always found him pragmatic, and he listened to input from stakeholders. He was exposed to trade and industrial issues as DG of the dtic, and these seem to dominate our relationship with the USA at the moment.

“He has also spent his time after he left the dtic in private business and is not as exposed to the rough and tumble of domestic and international politics. His low political profile will provide him with the necessary space to build relationships and be an effective emissary for South Africa.”

Those qualities seem to be appealing to the US government, which appears to be accepting him as a technocrat focused sharply on the job at hand — reducing the high import tariffs US President Donald Trump has slapped on SA, getting its participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act extended and, more generally, normalising economic relations with the world’s largest economy.

One Western ambassador though, advised caution, saying that for all his trade experience and expertise, Ruiters couldn’t do much about the non-trade issues — or “hot-button” issues as Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Park Tau has called them — which bother the Trump administration so much, like black economic empowerment, expropriation of property without compensation and the supposed persecution of Afrikaners.

President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told Daily Maverick, “We are not going to enter into any realm of speculation regarding this matter. When the President is ready to announce his appointment, with all the necessary administrative processes concluded, we will announce.

“The President appreciates the urgency and he equally understands what he needs to do to ensure that we sustain the momentum that we now have in our engagements with President’s Trump administration.” 

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Consulting

The Full Spectrum of Security Consulting

Security threats today are multifaceted and fast-moving—ranging from cyberattacks and insider threats to physical security breaches and regional unrest. Businesses need more than a reactive approach; they need comprehensive security consulting that spans prevention, response, and recovery.

Birdseye Security and Investigation Corporation offers end-to-end security consulting services that address the full spectrum of corporate risk. We start by conducting thorough threat assessments to understand your unique vulnerabilities. From there, we design custom security strategies that include contingency planning, crisis response protocols, and recovery frameworks.

Our consultants bring experience from military, intelligence, and corporate security backgrounds, ensuring practical, real-world solutions. Whether you’re facing threats to physical assets, personnel, or sensitive data, we help build resilient systems that withstand pressure.

During crises, we provide hands-on support—coordinating with internal teams, managing communications, and guiding leadership through high-stress decisions. And once the crisis is over, we help debrief and strengthen your systems to prevent recurrence.

With Birdseye, you’re not just preparing for the next threat—you’re building a culture of security, resilience, and informed readiness.

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Consulting

How Confidential Briefings Empower Executive Decision-Making

In an era of information overload and rapid geopolitical change, decision-makers require more than just news headlines—they need strategic, actionable intelligence delivered in a clear and confidential manner. That’s where confidential briefings come in.

Executives managing multinational operations or investments in volatile regions need high-level updates that go beyond the public domain. Birdseye Security and Investigation Corporation provides custom briefings designed to inform, not overwhelm. Our reports are tailored to each client’s operational footprint, industry exposure, and risk tolerance, ensuring relevance and clarity.

These confidential briefings offer insights into political transitions, regional flashpoints, regulatory shifts, and potential security threats. They help leaders prepare for upcoming challenges, adjust strategies, and make decisions that protect both assets and reputations.

Unlike generic news services, our intelligence is filtered, analyzed, and focused. We understand that in high-stakes environments, discretion and accuracy are paramount. Our clients trust us to provide the intelligence they need—securely, swiftly, and strategically.

With Birdseye’s briefings, executives are not just better informed; they’re empowered to lead with foresight and confidence.

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Consulting

Why Geopolitical Risk Assessments Are Vital for Businesses

In today’s interconnected world, geopolitical events have a profound and immediate impact on global markets, supply chains, and business operations. From territorial disputes and regime changes to policy shifts and regional instability, the landscape of international risk is constantly evolving. For businesses operating across borders or dependent on global networks, understanding and anticipating these developments is not just a strategic advantage—it’s a necessity.

Geopolitical risk assessments provide organizations with the insights needed to prepare for, adapt to, and even capitalize on shifting political dynamics. By monitoring threats such as trade sanctions, armed conflicts, diplomatic tensions, and civil unrest, businesses can better safeguard their assets, protect their people, and maintain operational continuity.

At Birdseye Security and Investigation Corporation, we deliver tailored geopolitical intelligence that empowers clients to make informed decisions. Our assessments are grounded in rigorous analysis, real-time monitoring, and deep regional expertise. We identify both immediate and long-term threats, allowing organizations to proactively mitigate risks rather than reactively manage crises.

Whether you operate in energy, finance, logistics, or manufacturing, our insights can be the difference between disruption and resilience. With our support, businesses can navigate uncertainty with confidence and clarity.