DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan will make history as the first female President to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, set to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next week.
Invited by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President Samia’s participation at the summit—under the theme ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet’—also marks the first time a Tanzanian leader joins the G20 since the group expanded from the G8 in 2009.
Her attendance underscores Tanzania’s increasing global influence and commitment to addressing shared challenges such as climate resilience, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
According to the statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the third phase President, late Benjamin Mkapa and the fourth phase President Dr Jakaya Kikwete represented Tanzania in G8 summits in 2005 and 2008 respectively.
President Samia’s participation reflects Tanzania’s growing influence and increased visibility on the international stage, highlighting her dedication to addressing critical global issues, including youth empowerment, gender equality and challenges such as energy transition, poverty, food security and the impacts of climate change. These priorities align closely with the 2024 G20 agenda.
Tanzania’s role at the summit is expected to open pathways for achieving the nation’s development goals.
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By participating, the country aims to secure international funding and partnerships for initiatives like the clean coking programme and renewable infrastructure projects, which are crucial for environmental sustainability, economic growth and public health.
Additionally, Tanzania will promote investment in food security through climate-smart agriculture to strengthen regional resilience against climate change and bolster sustainable food systems.
President Samia’s involvement underscores Tanzania’s commitment to collaborative global solutions, aiming to foster progress toward a just and sustainable future.
The summit opens on November 18 with the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, a Brazilian initiative designed to unite countries and organisations in the fight against hunger and poverty by 2030. This alliance, already drawing significant membership, is expected to be a major event highlight.
The opening ceremony of the Summit, on November 18, will feature the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, a Brazilian initiative aimed at mobilising countries and international organisations to accelerate efforts against hunger and poverty by 2030.
The Alliance will be one of the main highlights of the event and according to Lyrio, it already has a significant number of members, which is expected to grow.
Later that day, a session restricted to Heads of State will focus on global governance reform—a priority of Brazil’s G20 presidency. Discussions will centre on modernising key international institutions, including the United Nations, the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO, to reflect contemporary realities and foster fairer governance.
On November 19, the final day of the summit, a ceremonial handover of the G20 presidency from Brazil to South Africa will take place.
This transition underscores the continuity of G20 leadership and links global priorities with Africa’s unique challenges, as South Africa assumes the presidency for 2025.
