About us
The African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative (ALDRI) was established in early 2025 by a group of former African Heads of State and Government committed to addressing the urgent challenges of the sovereign debt crisis gripping the continent.
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.
At the same time, the continent is increasingly suffering from climate disasters. Climate vulnerability is now a key factor in sovereign credit ratings, further raising borrowing costs. 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.
While Africa is at the epicenter of the debt crisis, the issue is not confined to the continent—many countries across the Global South are grappling with unsustainable debt burdens that limit their ability to invest in sustainable growth, development and climate resilience.
What we do
ALDRI seeks to break the silence on this global crisis and advocate for large-scale, systemic solutions. ALDRI is dedicated to:
Advocating for Comprehensive Debt Relief
Pushing for a large-scale, fair, and timely approach to sovereign debt restructuring that benefits highly indebted developing countries.
Mobilizing Global Action
Engaging governments, international financial institutions, and the private sector to reform the international debt and financial system.
Enabling Sustainable Growth
Promoting innovative solutions that lower the cost of capital and unlock resources for green growth and sustainable economic development.
Our approach
ALDRI is a platform for high-level engagement, policy advocacy, and bold leadership to secure debt relief and unlock financing for climate-resilient, green growth. The Initiative unites former African Heads of State and Government to use their collective influence to drive urgent action on debt reform. By engaging in high-level advocacy, the initiative ensures that debt relief and financial reform remain a top priority on the global agenda, helping to shift the international conversation from short-term fixes to long-term solutions. Additionally, ALDRI works with financial and policy experts to develop actionable recommendations that create a more just and sustainable financial system, enabling countries to break free from unsustainable debt cycles and invest in their economic and environmental future.
Why now?
Africa is at the epicentre of the sovereign debt crisis and is home to the highest concentration of highly indebted countries. As a result, Africa has a critical interest in finding a solution to the debt crisis. With South Africa leading the G20 Presidency in 2025, the African Union actively involved in global financial reform, and growing momentum behind the Jubilee Year 2025 campaign for debt relief, there is an unprecedented opportunity to push for ambitious reforms.
African Leaders 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.