IMF Sees Post-War States As Priority In Africa
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is prioritizing financial aid and technical assistance for African countries emerging from conflict, in the hope it will help reenergize the economy of the worlds poorest continent.
Abdoulaye Bio-Tchane, Director of the IMF’s Africa department, said the global lender was working towards agreements with four countries in West and Central Africa recovering from war: Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau.
– These countries are clearly priorities for the Fund because of their potential but also because of the weakness of the economy. They are countries which really need the Fund, Bio-Tchane said Wednesday.
An informal meeting of the Funds board last weekend discussed forgiving Liberias 800 million US dollar in arrears (restance) to the world lender, which former dictator Charles Taylor reneged upon (løb fra) during a 1989-2003 civil war.
The Fund Board wants a coordinated debt relief strategy with other multilateral lenders and the Paris Club of creditors.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
