AHG/Res. 134 (XX)
RESOLUTION ON THE EXTERNAL DEBTS OF
AFRICAN COUNTRIES
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African
Unity, meeting in its Twentieth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 12 –
15 November, 1984,
Having examined the serious debt problem of African countries,
Considering that the external debts of African countries have, in recent years,
experienced a continuous and alarming progression coupled with high interest rates,
fluctuation of exchange rates and increase in the average ratio of debt servicing,
Underlying the fact that the external debt burden of the African countries is not
likely to imperil the international financial system but rather the servicing of those
debts represents for each African country a burden and, therefore, requires an urgent
solution,
Recalling that despite the adjustments and heavy sacrifices made, export
earnings of non-oil producing developing countries will not be enough to alleviate this
debt burden,
Considering that the respect of the debt maturity dates and the concomitant
exigency of growth as well as real development are authentically related in the present
situation,
Aware of the fact that a mutual commitment of African debtors and creditors of
the industrialized countries as well as better utilization of the available resources will
enhance growth and development,
Noting that in this area, the responsibility is shared between the debtor
countries, the industrializes countries and the financial and banking institutions: