In the past decade, the external debt of many African countries has risen sharply due to falling commodity prices and an economic slowdown related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike previous periods of high debt accumulation, many countries have turned to China and private creditors to borrow money instead of the traditional creditors in the so-called Paris Club. What does the changed composition of creditors mean for African countries in need of restructuring their debts?

NAI Senior Researcher Jörgen Levin was one of the panelists at the launch of the UNIPID report Debt in developing countries - Expert views from Sub-Saharan Africa External link, opens in new window., at the Ministry for Foregin Affairs of Finland, in Helsinki in January 2024.