Debt relief is the last hope for Africa to withstand climate change shocks

Boys relax on dried shrubs in Wajir County, as they graze their livestock. [File, Standard]

Africa is trapped in a vicio us cycle. It faces escalating climate disasters but spends more on de bt repayments than on protecting its people.

In 2023, African nations paid more than $70 billion in debt servicing, money that could have built climate-resilient infrastructure, expanded renewab le energy, and funded adaptation projects . Instead, they borrowed more to survive crises they did not create.