South Sudan: an illustration of the debt crisis

“I write to you with a heart carrying the reality that our people face today,” Nearly 10 million South Sudanese need humanitarian assistance. Flooding has displaced a million people this year. Food insecurity is widespread and malnutrition is rising.

Alongside all of this is the burden of external debt. Years of instability forced our nation to borrow in order to function. Today, so much of our national resources are diverted to servicing that debt, instead of paying for growing food, healthcare, education and building peace. When debt repayment takes priority over essential services, the poorest suffer most.”