For the first time in a decade, no African nation currently faces a sovereign risk premium indicating debt distress, signaling a major turnaround in the continent’s financial landscape. Mozambique’s bond spread dropped below the critical 1,000 basis point mark this month, marking the end of a period characterized by defaults in Zambia, Ghana, Malawi, and Ethiopia during the pandemic. Reforms backed by the IMF, debt restructurings, and cooling inflation have helped countries like Kenya regain market access. However, pockets of vulnerability remain—Ethiopia is still in default, and Senegal’s bonds are under pressure due to revised debt data. Still, the overall shift offers renewed optimism for investors seeking high-yield opportunities amid global uncertainty.
Bloomberg
