Nana Dr. Antwi‑Boasiako Amoah, chair of the Africa Group of Negotiators, warned that more than two‑thirds of low‑income African states cannot meet sovereign‑debt obligations or face high risk of default as the Super El Niño intensifies weather extremes across sub‑Saharan Africa.

He highlighted that Africa’s per‑capita emissions are less than half those of the Global North, yet the continent bears a disproportionate share of climate impacts while foreign aid shrinks and debt rises.

Research cited by the negotiators shows the top third most climate‑vulnerable African countries spend almost two‑thirds of their revenue on debt service, allocating roughly 25 times more to debt than to climate action.

The negotiators noted that much of the climate‑related aid arrives as loans, further tightening fiscal space and risking a “disorganized and unjust” transition for low‑ and middle‑income nations.

Country examples illustrate the pressure: Kenya’s debt‑to‑GDP ratio sits at 70%, and rising oil prices have already sparked street protests over fuel costs.

The African bloc plans to push for an operational Just Transition Mechanism at COP31 in Turkey, seeking adequate funding, African‑led design, and concrete debt‑relief measures to prevent the transition from deepening the debt trap.

The upcoming COP32, to be hosted by Ethiopia, is slated as a further platform for African leaders to advance these finance and legal reforms.