2+ Months Into the COVID-19 Economic Crisis in Africa and Still No Word on Debt Relief

Residents of the Olievenhoutbosch township in Centurion, queue on May 2, 2020 during a food distributions organised by the South African non profit charity Mahlasedi Foundation. 30 000 households in the township have been provided with 2200 tons of dry food, sanitisers and masks. MARCO LONGARI / AFP

It’s been more than two months since Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned in a letter to G20 leaders that African countries face an “existential threat” from the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Since that initial call on March 24, there’ve been a lot of discussions, a lot of promises, a lot of suggestions but surprisingly little substantive action. Resolving the debt issue, especially given how complicated most African countries’ loan portfolios are today, was never going to be easy.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6
Indonesia Begins $5.9 Billion Chinese EV Battery Project Despite Environment Fears

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP