CGD in the News

Defaulting on Africa’s Future

June 21, 2023

Op-ed by Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development.

Even though 23 African countries are dealing with unsustainable debt burdens, very few have stopped servicing their external obligations. To keep international creditors happy, and avoid the costs of default, many economies on the continent are severely underspending on education and health, to the detriment of future generations.