The World Bank and the IMF have granted debt relief to Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The debt relief - granted after the two countries fulfilled the conditions for completing the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) - is essential for fighting poverty and increasing fiscal space in the two countries that rank as number 169 (Liberia) and 176 (DRC) out of the 182 countries on the UNDP 2010 Human Development Index.
Despite debt relief for poor countries being much-needed and welcome, civil society regrets that the international creditors have not recognised their share of responsibility in what CSOs believe to be illegitimate debts contracted by dictatorial regimes without the consent of their peoples or their legitimate democratic representatives.
Lees het hele artikel op de EURODAD-website.
