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- Dec 3, 2013
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AFRODAD Interim Executive Director, Dr. Theophilus Yungong Jong
NAIROBI, Kenya – The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) has called on journalists across the continent to intensify scrutiny of public debt, illicit financial flows, and governance failures, warning that Africa's growing debt burden is undermining development and threatening future generations.
The call was made during the sixth edition of the African Media Initiative on Debt and Development (AFROMEDI VI), held in Nairobi from May 27 to 29, 2026, bringing together 45 journalists from 29 African countries under the theme of advancing social and economic justice through debt accountability.
Opening the forum, AFRODAD Interim Executive Director, Dr. Theophilus Yungong Jong, stressed that debt reporting should be treated as a public interest issue because its consequences are felt directly by ordinary citizens.
“Debt is not an abstract number. It is the classroom that was never built, the clinic that ran out of medicine, the scholarship that was cancelled and the civil servant who went unpaid,” Dr. Jong said.
He noted that discussions on debt often remain confined to government boardrooms and international financial institutions, leaving citizens disconnected from decisions made on their behalf. He urged journalists to bridge that gap by helping communities understand how borrowing affects public services, development priorities, and national sovereignty.
“Journalists are not being asked to become advocates, but when citizens understand what was promised in their name, they demand accountability,” he said.
The forum also highlighted the growing threat of illicit financial flows (IFFs), which experts say continue to deprive African governments of critical revenue while increasing dependence on borrowing.
Pan-African lawyer and tax justice advocate Dr. Lyla Latif warned that Africa loses an estimated US$89 billion annually through illicit financial flows, including transfer pricing schemes, inflated consultancy fees, and tax avoidance practices by multinational corporations.
“You come up to your net profit, which would be basically nothing. And that is what is taxed,” she explained, describing how companies manipulate costs to reduce taxable income.
Latif also raised concerns over emerging forms of financial crime driven by artificial intelligence. She cited a case in China where fraudsters allegedly used AI-generated digital identities to fraudulently claim US$76 million in tax refunds, warning that similar schemes could emerge in Africa as governments accelerate digitalisation.
She argued that such losses are directly linked to Africa’s debt challenges, forcing governments to borrow at significantly higher interest rates than developed nations and diverting resources away from essential public services.
“Tackling illicit financial flows and AI-enabled fraud is not just about plugging leaks. It is about achieving debt justice and fiscal sovereignty,” she said.
The debt debate intensified during the forum’s second day when South African Member of Parliament Visvin Reddy questioned whether debt had become the latest mechanism depriving Africa of its future.
“If slavery stole African labour and colonialism stole our resources, will debt steal Africa’s future?” Reddy asked during a panel discussion on external and domestic debt pressures.
He noted that African countries are expected to spend more than US$90 billion servicing debt in 2026, often before allocating resources to healthcare, education, infrastructure, and job creation.
“Before hiring a nurse, building a school or creating jobs, Africa must first pay its debts. We are paying for yesterday's borrowing at the expense of tomorrow's development,” he said.
Reddy argued that despite possessing vast natural wealth, including critical minerals, fertile land, oil, and renewable energy resources, many African nations remain trapped in cycles of poverty and debt dependence.
He also warned about the hidden costs of domestic borrowing, saying governments increasingly rely on local banks and bond markets, driving up interest rates and crowding out private sector investment.
Calling on journalists to focus on the human impact of debt rather than just economic indicators, Reddy urged media practitioners to ask difficult questions about who borrowed, who benefited, and how borrowed funds were used.
“Behind debt statistics are mothers without medicine, overcrowded classrooms and communities struggling every day. Debt is not just an economic issue; it is a human story,” he said.
During the forum, AFRODAD also launched the AFRODAD Courses on Debt and Development (A-CoDD), a new platform designed to strengthen journalists’ capacity to report on debt, development finance, and illicit financial flows.
Since its inception in 2021, AFROMEDI has trained and connected nearly 600 journalists from 37 African countries, creating a growing network of media professionals committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and informed public debate on Africa’s development challenges.
Speakers throughout the forum agreed that stronger journalism will be essential if Africa is to address debt vulnerabilities, curb illicit financial flows, and secure a more equitable role in the global financial system.
As Dr. Jong concluded, the continent must strive to become “a rule maker, not a rule taker” in global financial governance, with journalists playing a central role in informing citizens and holding leaders accountable.
