Poor, indebted countries need collective relief, African leaders say

Delegates arrive at the Cape Town International Convention Centre during the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Cape Town, South Africa February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Nic Bothma

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Growing external debt burdens are crippling the world's poorest countries, a group of former African leaders warned on Thursday as they pushed for a new programme of collective relief from private, bilateral and multilateral creditors.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is hoping to use his country's current presidency of the Group of 20 nations to champion the cause of the developing world, including action on debt relief and a more equitable global finance architecture.