About us
ALDRI seeks to break the silence on this global crisis and advocate for large-scale, systemic solutions.
Our Members
The African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative is composed of the following leaders.
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Breaking the Silence, Driving Solutions
Africa is at the epicenter of a deepening sovereign debt crisis, driven by the compounded shocks of COVID-19, surging energy and food prices, and the escalating impacts of climate change. Many African countries now spend more on debt servicing than on critical investments in education, healthcare, and sustainable development. Alarmingly, half of African nations allocate more to interest payments alone than to their public health budgets.
At the same time, the continent faces escalating climate challenges that demand urgent financial resources to invest in climate resilience and sustainable green growth. With soaring external debt levels and the cost of capital exceeding projected growth rates, many African economies are caught in a vicious cycle of debt, underinvestment, and climate risk.The G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments, intended to provide relief to struggling economies, has fallen short in providing timely and predictable debt restructuring.
The African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative (ALDRI) brings together former African Heads of State and Government committed to breaking the silence on the sovereign debt crisis and advocating for a new, large-scale debt relief initiative. With 2025 as a pivotal year—marked by South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the African Union’s strengthened role in G20 discussions, and a renewed global push for debt relief under the Jubilee Year—ALI seeks to mobilize African leadership for urgent action. The time to act is now.
rican Leaders Talk About ALDRI
African Leaders Talk About ALDRI
For too long, the debt burden carried by African nations has gone unaddressed—quietly draining public budgets, stalling progress, and deepening inequality. While the world faces multiple, overlapping crises, African countries are asked to do more with less: to repay mounting debts while also investing in schools, hospitals, and climate resilience.
In this video, former African Heads of State and Government talk about what motivated them to join the African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative (ALDRI).
As African Leaders they know what’s at stake—and what’s possible when African voices lead the way. Their message is clear: the current approach to sovereign debt isn’t working, and the time for a new, fairer system is now. With ALDRI they seek to break the silence on this global crisis and advocate for large-scale, systemic solutions.
With 2025 offering a critical window for action—from South Africa’s G20 presidency to global calls for a new Jubilee—the moment demands bold leadership and collective resolve.
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