964 Scenes
PH: DR: Country Coalition Representatives at the last round table
Lthe fourth Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD IV), 2024 edition was held in Maputo, Mozambique from August 28 to 30, 2024. debt management and payment in Africa.
map, Alin ASSANKPON
The trave
“Debt Crisis in Africa: Pan-African Feminist Perspectives and Alternatives” this keynote was the subject of in-depth analyses, exchanges and recommendations on all aspects of debt, women and existing development approaches. Indeed , for three days, several variations of the theme are reflected upon.
If the first day (Day 1) was dedicated to the opening ceremony, the presentation of the first theme followed by exchanges and interventions and a round table of women involved in the campaign against African debt and “Stop the Bleding” enriched with rural experiences. and good practices;
PH: DR: A panel of extremely enthusiastic women
The second one (Day 2) was very important and was given by twelve sessions that animated sub-themes related to the theme of the conference according to the African assignments and the specialization of the panelists (experts) and com -partners
The third, (Day 3), in addition to the parallel meetings of the Country Coalitions, was dedicated to a large round table moderated by Jason R. Braganza, Executive Director of AFrodAD, allowing the representatives of the Co- National bonds to take stock of AFrodAD. activities performed in each country. Likewise, a platform, a round table was offered to amazing women, who were involved at the country level, in the fight for AFrodAD with a very moving sharing of experiences.
Lakeclosing ceremony
The closing ceremony was held on the third day through speeches that brought back the objectives of the Conference by showing where we come from and where we are going very determined to finish put on the burden of the debt that is bending under the back of African citizens and especially for women. .
Continuing the promises of Maputo no matter the cost. “Freedom is not given for free, it must be taken away”. “Alone, we are weak; united we are stronger!” “United Africa” by the late Bob Marley he brought it back several times and then the African anthem to celebrate the awakening of a united Africa.
A cocktail evening of music and dance definitively drew the curtains on the fourth edition of the African Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD IV) in Maputo, 2024.
While we await the final decisions, we can remember that…
Feminist analysis is fundamental in understanding financial issues, especially important, women’s debt and the most vulnerable sectors of our countries. A feminist reading of debt by our leaders will certainly make it possible to reform the global financial architecture and ” take the debt out of the closet », “which clearly means to clarify that finance is not an attraction, but something that oppresses people in a very hard way, to the extent that debt imposes an obligation on more extra work, no matter how fragile the conditions. In other words: debt means obedience, and affects women directly”.
Let’s also remember that….
Africa’s debt will directly burden Africans who will have to pay the price of reckless borrowing and equally reckless borrowing. However, despite the debt burden, institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) continue to provide loans to African governments under the guise of “really soft” loans by justifying debt sustainability very low.
So Africa is caught in a debt trap that goes beyond the contraction of fiscal room for maneuver. The trap of low production capacity embedded in the neoliberal economic order that prevents any attempt by Africa to produce and transform its economies into industrial and manufacturing centers for global production. Although Africa can do it, hence the slogan:“Africa can do it”; “Africa can have its way in pan-African multilateralism”.
And finally, let us remember that Africa is now the maker of African Rule.
Africa’s role in the global financial and debt architecture as a rule maker “Africa’s Rule Maker” now seeking a new political consensus for a new debt architecture in which the continent creates rules and negotiates debt on the basis of its natural resources which are as large as the entire world.
“Historically, Africa’s experience with debt resolution has been messy and long. It will also examine the idea of intersection between Africa’s foreign policy and economic, trade and security policy, as well as how to develop this policy framework.
