As some of the world’s richest countries became centres of the coronavirus pandemic, politicians and populations temporarily glimpsed the abyss. What the developed countries did for their own economies is now desperately required for the poorest nations of the world. The World Health Organization has warned that Africa may soon face “a huge peak” in coronavirus infections. There must be a moratorium on debt repayments from poorer nations to lender countries, multilateral institutions and private creditors (around $44bn is due from Africa alone). History will judge the more prosperous nations harshly if they fail to act decisively to help the world’s poor in this hour of need.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 13, 2020 18:45 UTC