Thu May 08 18:30:00 UTC 2025: ## US Aid Cuts Threaten Already Debt-Strapped Africa
**JOHANNESBURG** – Africa’s burgeoning debt crisis is poised to worsen following potential US aid cuts to numerous nations on the continent. Already burdened by over $650 billion in external debt, more than half of African countries are either in debt distress or dangerously close to it. This crippling debt burden is forcing governments to prioritize debt servicing over crucial social spending like healthcare and education, fueling economic hardship and rising poverty and unemployment. Despite the continent’s vast natural resources and young population – assets that theoretically offer significant economic potential – many African nations are struggling to escape a cycle of debt and underdevelopment. The slow pace of debt restructuring is exacerbating the crisis, leaving experts concerned about the potential for further instability across the continent.
First Piper 