European, African Leaders Meet on Sidelines of "G20" Summit to Support Poorest Economies

The French presidency said that European Union leaders will meet African leaders, in efforts to increase support for the continent's poorest economies, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters Friday that he expected the G20 to approve an additional $100 billion to support African economies.

The French president will host the informal meeting later on Saturday at the French embassy in Rome on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Among the participants in the meeting are German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, African Union President Felix Tshisekedi, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

The Elysee, headquarter of the  French presidency, said that the presidents of South Africa and Senegal, Cyril Ramaphosa and Macky Sall, will participate via video link.

The money will be made available by reallocating some of the Special Drawing Rights to African countries, a foreign exchange instrument used to help finance imports from the International Monetary Fund and initially intended to go to advanced economies.

Environmental activists rallied in an attempt to block traffic on Bromma Street in the center of Rome, the capital city of Italy, in the area where the G20 summit kicks off on Saturday, amid calls for climate protection.

The media published pictures showing dozens of demonstrators gathered in the center of the Italian capital.

Representatives of trade unions, the extreme left, and environmental organizations called for demonstrations in the center of Rome.

It is worth noting that the Italian authorities have mobilized more than five thousand policemen, gendarmes, and soldiers to secure the summit.

Also, helicopters and drones constantly flew over the Italian capital, while the neighborhood where the summit is being held has been "fortified".

Today, Saturday, Rome will host the Group of Twenty (20G) summit for two days, and the summit will focus on many files, most notably "Corona and climate