Modern African Export-Import Bank headquarters with glass facade and greenery.
Afreximbank, Africa’s trade finance giant, is under scrutiny over whether its loans to defaulting countries should be included in debt restructuring deals. Though it claims Preferred Creditor Status, typically shielding lenders from write-offs, critics argue its commercial lending terms and diverse ownership complicate that claim. Countries like Ghana, Zambia, and South Sudan are pushing for debt talks, while the bank insists it’s not negotiating any restructurings. The debate has spooked investors, threatening to elevate its borrowing costs, potentially triggering a bond selloff and further downgrades. With $35 billion in assets and growing influence, the outcome of this debate could reshape how debts owed to the bank are handled.
CNBC Africa