Top 10 G20 countries with the smallest influence in Africa

Historical links frequently have little bearing on G20 countries with little sway over Africa.

Countries like South Korea or Australia have comparatively fewer historical or linguistic ties to African countries than former colonial powers like the United Kingdom and France.

This may result in fewer historical complaints, but it may also restrict diplomatic and economic gains.

Countries with limited African influence frequently prioritize focused economic ties over continent-wide participation.

These states may favor a few resource-rich or strategically important countries.

For example, Australia has focused on mining projects in Southern Africa, but South Korea has invested in technology and manufacturing in certain countries.

These selective economic partnerships can be advantageous in comparison to countries such as China and the United States, who have large infrastructural and commercial linkages with multiple African states.

They enable more targeted investment, but they risk being seen as transactional rather than revolutionary.

Keeping a smaller footprint in Africa has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, fewer entanglements equals fewer allegations of exploitation or neocolonialism.

It enables more flexible diplomacy and perhaps more sustainable alliances.

However, lesser influence results in less bargaining power and a reduced role in defining Africa’s economic and geopolitical destiny.

Countries with greater power frequently have more opportunities to drive policy alignment and win advantageous trade conditions.

With that said, here are the G20 countries with the fewest number of African friends according to a report by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), titled Geopolitical Influence & Peace report.