Readout of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s US-Africa Policy Working Group Briefing on Debt Sustainability in Africa

Today, the U.S.-Africa Policy Working Group convened a meeting to examine the growing debt challenges facing many African countries. Members of the Working Group heard from leading experts, including Mr. Tim Hirschel-Burns, Policy Liaison for the Global Economic Governance Initiative at Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center; Dr. Brahima Coulibaly, Vice President & Director of the Global Economy and Development Program at the Brookings Institution; and Mr. Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network.

The briefers discussed the structural and geopolitical drivers of Africa’s sovereign debt burden, including rising borrowing costs, external shocks, economic vulnerabilities, and institutional governance issues. They emphasized the critical role of private creditors, bilateral lenders, and multilateral institutions in shaping both the debt landscape and the policy responses available. The discussion also explored the shortcomings of current debt relief mechanisms and identified opportunities to improve global financial governance, strengthen creditor coordination, and expand fiscal space for African governments to invest in sustainable development.

Members engaged in a constructive dialogue about how the U.S. and Congress can help advance debt fairness, economic resilience, and inclusive growth – advancing strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships across the continent.