South Africa braces for a high-stakes G20 summit without the United States

South Africa is making final preparations to host world leaders at the G20 summit in Johannesburg this weekend — a historic first for the African continent, but one overshadowed by the absence of the United States. President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the gathering has raised questions about the summit’s influence, even as South Africa positions itself as a voice for developing nations.

Forty-two countries are expected to…