Debt relief for Africa

External debt remains a major obstacle to human development in sub‐Saharan Africa. Repayments on that debt swallow up $10bn annually, diverting on a massive scale the resources needed for investment in health, education, employment and economic recovery. These transfers from the world's poorest region are unacceptable and should be stopped. Yet in contrast to other developing regions and even eastern Europe, existing debt‐relief measures for sub‐Saharan Africa are totally inadequate.