Lomé, Togo, will convene African leaders, financial experts, and global stakeholders from May 12–14, 2025, for a landmark African Union (AU) conference aimed at addressing Africa’s mounting public debt challenges. Under the theme “Africa’s Public Debt Management Programme: Restoring and Preserving Debt Sustainability,” the event seeks to forge unified strategies to stabilize economies and secure long-term fiscal resilience across the continent.
Organized by the AU Commission’s Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, and Minerals Department (ETTIM), the summit will gather representatives from AU member states, central banks, regional economic blocs, finance ministries, multilateral institutions like the IMF and World Bank, and civil society groups. Policymakers and financial analysts will collaborate to refine Africa’s collective position on reforming the global financial architecture—a critical step toward alleviating debt distress.
Key objectives include revising continental approaches to debt restructuring, exploring innovative financing mechanisms, and recommending best practices for sustainable resource mobilization. Discussions will also focus on establishing principles for prudent debt management and advancing policy reforms to shield African economies from external shocks.
“This conference is a pivotal moment for Africa to reclaim agency over its financial future,” said an AU spokesperson. “By harmonizing our strategies, we can transform debt management into a tool for growth rather than a barrier.”
The choice of Lomé as host underscores Togo’s growing role in advocating for pan-African economic collaboration. Outcomes from the summit are expected to inform high-stakes negotiations at global forums, including G20 and UN meetings, while aligning with the AU’s broader Agenda 2063 vision for inclusive and sustainable development.
As nations grapple with rising borrowing costs and climate-related fiscal pressures, the Lomé conference aims to position Africa as a unified bloc demanding fairer access to financing and equitable solutions to structural imbalances in the international financial system.
