The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disbursed US$10 billion to 27 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, spokesman Gerry Rice said at a press briefing in Washington DC on Thursday.
That unprecedented amount is 10 times more than what the IMF has been disbursing to the Sub-Saharan African region annually, or an average of US$1 billion each year, Mr. Rice said, adding that “more is planned in the coming weeks.”
Additionally, 19 Sub-Saharan African countries have received debt relief under the IMF’s the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT), for a total of $204 million.
He said as of 3 June, 2020, around 35-40 Sub-Saharan African countries have made a request for emergency assistance.
“To help the continent address its current economic challenges, the IMF is providing emergency financing on unprecedented scale.
“We are also exploring ways to deploy Special Drawing Rights to support low-income and small economies, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“And together with the World Bank, we support the G20 debt service suspension initiative that could provide temporary breathing space of some US$12 billion to eligible low-income countries.
“Other development partners such as the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank are also ramping up financing,” Rice added.
Sub-Saharan African Countries That Have received Emergency Financing and Debt Relief From IMF
1. Benin
2. Burkina Faso
3. Cabo Verde
4. Cameroon
5. Central African Republic
6. Chad
7. Comoros
8. Congo, Democratic Republic
9. Côte d’Ivoire
10. Ethiopia,l
11. Gabon
12. Gambia
13. Ghana
14. Kenya
15. Madagascar
16. Mali
17. Malawi
18. Mozambique
19. Niger
20. Nigeria
21. Rwanda
22. São Tomé and Príncipe
23. Senegal
24. Seychelles
25. Sierra Leone
26. Togo
27. Uganda
A survey of the world map shows Africa has received the largest share of the emergency funding help from the IMF totaling to about $10 billion followed by Middle East and Central Asia.
Sub-Saharan Africa also accounts for the most multiple funding from IMF since the Covid-19 outbreak started.
According to the IMF, The disbursement will help address the urgent fiscal and balance of payments needs that Africa is facing, improve confidence, and catalyze support from other development partners.
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