Browsing: Africa’s Debt Landscape

Africa's $824Bn Debt
  • AfDB asks policymakers to put in place an orderly and predictable way of dealing with Africa’s $824Bn debt pile.
  • According to AfDB, Africa’s ballooning external debt reached $824 billion in 2021.
  • AfDB president says there is urgent need for increased concessional financing, particularly for low-income countries. 

Africa’s immense economic potential is being undermined by non-transparent resource-backed loans that complicate debt resolution and compromise countries’ future growth, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr Akinwumi Adesina has said.

Adesina at the Semafor Africa Summit taking place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank 2024 Spring Meetings, highlighted the challenges posed by Africa’s ballooning external debt, which reached $824 billion in 2021, with countries dedicating 65 per cent of their GDP to servicing these obligations.

He said the continent would pay $74 billion in debt service payments this year alone, a sharp increase from $17 billion in 2010. “I …

Africa debt crisis
  • As national debts grow, many African countries find themselves spending more on debt than on health.
  • IMF says the debt ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa surged to 60% from 30% of the countries’ GDP between 2013 and December 2022.
  • Kenya is for instance using nearly 60% of its annual revenues on paying debt obligations.

As the Africa debt crisis roils, over half of the countries have found themselves spending more money in servicing their loan obligations than even the amount they have budgeted for health services to their citizens.

This unfolding scenario is further burdening millions of their citizens who have little choice but to shoulder heavy tax burdens to settle mountains of debt.

Prof Danny Bradlow, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship in Pretoria, South Africa, captures the dire situation, stating: “over the  last three years (2019/22), more than 25 African governments allocated …

AFRODAD
  • The AU Summit 2024 is taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • The AU Summit 2024 has brought together the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government.
  • Marking a historic first, the year dedicated to Education follows its endorsement at the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of States.

Finance and economic experts from Africa have called on African leaders at the AU Summit 2024 to match unity speak with actions and step up regional integration efforts, as theselatex hood brock bowers jersey adidas yeezy boost 350 turtle dove custom stitched nfl jersey air max 270 women air jordan 1 element air max 270 women jordan proto max 720 borsa prima classe black friday wig sale asu football jersey asu football jersey luvme human hair wigs jock strap custom sublimated hockey jerseys are key to the continent’s agency and success in the push for debt reforms …