Africa at a Crossroads: Leaders Demand Urgent Debt Relief to Unlock Growth

By Adonis Byemelwa

Cape Town, South Africa - In a historic gathering on 27 February 2025, a coalition of African leaders called for an urgent and sweeping plan for debt relief, warning that without immediate action, Africa’s future remains under siege.

The African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative (ALDRI), meeting in Cape Town, declared that Africa is being strangled by an unsustainable debt burden at a time of economic turmoil, climate disasters, and global instability.

“The world has faced debt crises before and solved them,” said Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and chair of the initiative. “Now it must do so again. The question is: does the world have the will?”

At a time when interest rate hikes are choking economies, food and energy crises are deepening poverty, and climate change is wreaking havoc on African nations, leaders argue that Africa is not just in crisis but also poised for opportunity.

The continent is rich in resources, has a youthful and ambitious population, and is at the forefront of the green transition.
Yet, it remains trapped by unsustainable debt, with many nations spending more on interest payments than on health, education, or climate resilience.

The implications of this are staggering. With more than half of Africa’s population living in countries weighed down by debt repayments, critical investments in infrastructure, innovation, and human capital are being stalled.

Many African economies are unable to fully participate in the global market or unlock their growth potential due to financial constraints imposed by mounting debt obligations.

This crisis raises a critical question: Have these debts been used meaningfully? Critics argue that while some borrowing has been channeled into essential infrastructure and development projects, much of it has been wasted through mismanagement, corruption, and inefficient projects.

“Many African governments have taken loans under opaque terms, some of which have not translated into real economic growth,” said a financial analyst from Lagos. “Without accountability and structural reforms, relief alone will not solve the problem.”

South Africa’s leadership of the G20 in 2025 presents a turning point. With President Cyril Ramaphosa committing to prioritize debt sustainability for developing nations, African leaders are seizing this moment to push for real change.

They are calling on the G20 to move beyond empty promises and take concrete steps toward comprehensive debt restructuring.
“We cannot talk about global financial stability if Africa is drowning in debt,” said Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi. “Debt relief is not charity—it is an investment in a stronger Africa and a stronger global economy.”

The leaders propose a twofold solution: first, a fair and predictable debt restructuring process involving all creditors—private, bilateral, and multilateral—to ensure comparability and prevent prolonged financial crises.

Second, they call for lowering the cost of capital for developing nations, including credit enhancements through multilateral institutions and debt suspension mechanisms that create fiscal space for critical development and climate investments.

History has shown that bold action on debt relief can work. Germany benefited from significant debt cancellation under the 1952 London Debt Agreement, helping to drive its post-war economic recovery.
In the 1990s, the Brady Plan and the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative provided relief that spurred growth in several developing nations. The argument now is that Africa deserves the same decisive intervention.

However, not everyone is convinced. Critics warn that debt relief, while necessary, will not be a panacea. Some economists argue that without structural reforms, African governments may fall into the same debt traps again.

Others point to the role of international lenders, including China, in fueling the crisis. “Debt relief must be accompanied by greater financial transparency and responsible borrowing,” said a senior economist from Nairobi. “We can’t keep kicking the can down the road.”
Still, African leaders insist that without relief, Africa’s development goals—and the broader global economy—will suffer. Unlocking Africa’s economic potential would mean stronger global supply chains, increased trade, and acceleration of the green transition.

Among those lending their voices to this urgent call are some of the continent’s most respected statesmen and women: Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Macky Sall of Senegal, Joyce Banda of Malawi, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim of Mauritius, Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, and Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria.

These leaders, each carrying the weight of their nations’ struggles and hopes, have united under the African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative, not just as politicians but as guardians of a vision—one in which Africa is not shackled by unsustainable debt but empowered to build a future where prosperity is shared, and opportunities are abundant.

As the world watches, the message from Cape Town is clear: the time for action is now. “A strong Africa is a strong world,” said Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania. “If we are serious about a just and prosperous global economy, debt relief is the first step.”

With the G20 on the horizon and economic instability deepening, the decisions made in the coming months will determine whether Africa remains shackled by debt or finally steps into its full potential. The choice is not just Africa’s to make—it is the world’s.