Civil Society Leaders Urge France to Lead on Global South Debt Cancellation

During the Africa Forward Summit co-hosted by France and Kenya in Nairobi, six prominent civil society leaders from the Global North and South issued an urgent appeal for France to spearhead efforts in eliminating illegal and unsustainable debt burdening developing nations. The leaders argue that current debt servicing costs, which consume 30 to 50 percent of revenues in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia, severely hinder development, health, and education budgets. They call on France to leverage its political influence to demand debt cancellations and payment suspensions for heavily indebted nations such as Ethiopia. Furthermore, the group criticizes France for opposing genuine reforms to the international debt architecture, which remains dominated by wealthy nations through institutions like the IMF and G20. The statement urges France to reverse its stance against a United Nations Framework Convention on Debt and participate in intergovernmental processes to address structural gaps. The leaders emphasize that avoiding recurring debt crises requires fundamental governance reform rather than temporary relief measures, positioning debt cancellation as a matter of justice and reparations necessary for climate action and sustainable development in the Global South.