The South African presidency says France withdrew an invitation for the country to attend a group of seven (G-7) leaders’ summit in June following pressure from the United States.
The G7 comprise Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), and the US.
Its leaders are scheduled to meet in Évian-les-Bains, southeastern France, from June 15 to 17.
Vincent Magwenya, South African presidency spokesperson, said, “The invitation was withdrawn by the French government due to sustained pressure from the US,” Bloomberg reported.
“That’s the communication we received from the French government.”
Earlier, an official in French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said South Africa was not invited to the G-7 because Kenya — where Macron plans to travel in April — is attending in its stead.
Other invited countries include India, South Korea, and Brazil, the official said.
On Tuesday, Kenya’s principal secretary for foreign affairs said the East African nation, alongside Mahmoud Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union (AU) commission, was invited to “articulate Africa’s perspective”.
The development comes after months of escalating tension between South Africa and US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Trump accused South Africa of permitting a “white genocide” during a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office last year. The South African president rejected the claim.
Last November, Trump boycotted the G20 summit held in Johannesburg, where Macron invited Ramaphosa to participate in the G7.
