In 2023, Ivorian public debt stood at 55.8% of GDP, a level dangerously close to the 60% threshold recommended by the African Monetary Cooperation Program (AMCP). This trend is part of a broader trend observed in Africa, where rising debt has led to increased austerity measures, reduced public spending on essential services, and an erosion of workers’ rights. Rather than fostering development, debt repayments are draining national resources, leaving little room for investments in education, health, and infrastructure that would directly benefit citizens.

The crisis is further compounded by structural adjustment programs (SAPs), which have historically imposed draconian economic measures, such as privatizations, subsidy cuts, and wage freezes. These policies disproportionately affect the working class, pushing millions into deeper poverty while prioritizing foreign creditors over local economic stability.

Call to action: ITUC-Africa mass rally in Grand Bassam

In response to this growing crisis, the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa) and its affiliates from across the continent, alongside trade unions in Côte d’Ivoire, are organizing a mass rally in Grand Bassam to protest Africa’s unsustainable debt burden. This rally is a critical moment for trade unions, workers and civil society to unite to demand debt relief, responsible borrowing policies and economic systems that prioritize people over profit.

This mobilization is part of the broader ITUC-Africa campaign on African debt, launched at its 5th Congress in Nairobi in November 2023. The campaign aims to highlight the unjust economic structures that keep African nations in perpetual debt and to promote alternative solutions that promote sustainable development and social justice.

Why this gathering is important for African unions and workers

According to ITUC-Africa General Secretary, Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie, “ For African trade unions, the debt crisis is not just an economic issue, it is also a workers’ rights issue. The burden of debt austerity falls disproportionately on public sector employees, informal workers, women and youth, undermining job security, wages and essential labour protections . ”

One of the most pressing consequences of Africa’s growing debt crisis is the impact of austerity measures on public sector wages. As governments struggle to meet their debt repayment obligations, they are often forced to freeze wages or cut public sector jobs. This has dire consequences for teachers, health workers and civil servants, who face stagnant incomes despite rising costs of living. Falling wages and job losses in these essential sectors not only affect individual workers, but also weaken public service delivery, leading to overburdened hospitals, underfunded schools and an overall decline in the quality of essential services.

In addition to falling wages, another alarming trend is the privatization of essential services. Under pressure from donors and international financial institutions, many African governments have been forced to sell off public assets and services, transferring control of vital resources such as water, electricity, and health care to private entities. This often translates into higher costs for ordinary citizens, as privatized services prioritize profit over accessibility and affordability. The burden of these rising costs falls more heavily on low-income families and workers, widening social and economic inequalities.

Furthermore, the relentless demand for debt repayment severely limits governments’ ability to invest in social protection programs, including social protection, pensions, and unemployment benefits. As a result, millions of vulnerable citizens are left without adequate support, forcing them to live in precarious economic conditions. Instead of funding initiatives to provide safety nets for the unemployed, the elderly, and marginalized populations, public resources are diverted to repaying foreign creditors. This erosion of social protection threatens the foundations of economic stability, making it harder for African nations to break out of the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.

These challenges underscore the urgent need to reassess debt policies and move toward economic strategies that prioritize the well-being of African workers and citizens over debt repayment. Without immediate action, continued imposition of austerity measures, privatizations, and cuts in social spending will only deepen economic hardship and undermine long-term development prospects.

One of the most neglected yet deeply affected areas of the debt crisis is social reproduction—the unpaid work that keeps families, communities, and societies alive. As governments cut funding for public services, the responsibility for childcare, eldercare, health care, and education increasingly falls on households, especially women. When public hospitals are underfunded, women are left to care for sick relatives at home. When education budgets are cut, they must find ways to support their children’s learning. When social protection programs are eroded, families are left to bear the burden of financial instability alone.

This invisible work is the backbone of society, but it is consistently undervalued and made more difficult by debt-related austerity measures. Women, who already bear the majority of unpaid care work, are disproportionately affected, with limited access to decent employment, economic independence, and social mobility. Instead of investing in policies that support families and communities —like affordable childcare, universal health care, and social protection programs—governments are prioritizing debt repayment, deepening economic hardship at the household level.

A just and sustainable economic future for Africa must include recognition of and investment in social reproduction. Strengthening public services, expanding access to affordable credit, and implementing policies to alleviate financial insecurity will create a society in which well-being, not debt, determines our collective future. Without addressing the burden of debt-induced austerity policies on households, particularly women, economic justice and sustainable development will remain elusive.

By mobilizing in Grand Bassam, ITUC-Africa and its allies seek to empower trade unions to advocate for debt justice. The rally will amplify the voices of workers, farmers and marginalized communities who are most affected by debt-related economic hardship.

The objectives of the campaign

The upcoming gathering in Grand Bassam is a crucial step in tackling Africa’s crippling debt crisis, with several key objectives at its heart.

The rally is primarily aimed at raising awareness of the devastating socio-economic consequences of debt on African workers and their families. By highlighting the direct consequences of austerity measures – such as wage freezes, cuts to public services and rising prices of basic necessities – the movement aims to draw global attention to the urgent need for reform.

Beyond awareness raising, the rally will serve as a powerful platform to demand debt justice. Protesters and unions will call for fair and transparent debt restructuring processes, including the cancellation of unjust and odious debts that continue to burden African economies. Many of these debts, accrued through abusive financial arrangements, have prioritized the interests of creditors over the well-being of African citizens. By mobilizing around this issue, the movement will push for debt policies to be consistent with the principles of equity and economic sovereignty.

Another key objective is to promote sustainable economic policies that prioritize social investment over endless debt repayment. Instead of spending domestic resources on repaying foreign creditors, African governments should focus on strengthening education, health, infrastructure, and social protection programs. By advocating for a shift in economic priorities, the gathering seeks to challenge the status quo and promote financial policies that improve communities rather than impoverish them.

Finally, the gathering will aim to strengthen workers’ mobilization across the continent. African trade unions play a crucial role in shaping economic policies that defend workers’ rights and promote social justice. This gathering will serve as a unifying force, bringing together trade unions, civil society organizations, and activists from across Africa to build a collective movement for debt relief and economic equity. By fostering solidarity, the gathering will empower workers to play an active role in demanding policies that ensure dignity, fair wages, and economic stability for all.

Through these efforts, the gathering aims to bring about lasting change, pushing for an Africa where economic policies serve citizens and not the interests of debt holders.

The Big Picture: Debt, Climate Change, and Social Reproduction

Africa’s debt crisis is not an isolated case: it is intimately linked to broader economic and environmental injustices. Heavy debt burdens prevent African countries from investing in climate change adaptation and mitigation, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to environmental disasters. Côte d’Ivoire, one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, faces significant climate-related challenges, including deforestation, land degradation, and extreme weather. Without financial sovereignty, the country cannot implement sustainable agricultural and environmental policies.

Moreover, debt impacts social reproduction, the unpaid work of caring for families and communities. Women, who play a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion, bear the brunt of economic crises. As governments cut spending on health, education and social services, households, particularly those headed by women, are being forced to shoulder these responsibilities, exacerbating gender inequalities.

The Grand Bassam mass rally is expected to have a significant impact, both in Côte d’Ivoire and across the African continent. By bringing together trade unions, civil society organizations, and grassroots movements, the demonstration aims to mobilize broad-based support for economic justice. Through collective action, workers and communities will send a powerful message that debt policies must prioritize people’s well-being over financial obligations to foreign creditors.

Beyond mobilization, the gathering aims to pressure African governments and international donors to change their economic priorities. Instead of spending domestic resources on repaying unsustainable debt, governments must invest in critical social sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure. By amplifying the voices of workers and marginalized communities, the gathering will push policymakers to adopt financial strategies that promote development rather than deepen poverty.

Another key impact of this gathering is its role in strengthening global advocacy efforts by putting the debt crisis in Francophone Africa in the international spotlight. Historically, discussions on Africa’s debt burden have been dominated by Anglophone perspectives, leading many Francophone countries to be underrepresented in global campaigns for debt justice. This gathering will help bridge this gap, ensuring that the unique challenges facing Côte d’Ivoire and other Francophone countries receive the attention they deserve in the broader international debate.

Ultimately, the rally aims to influence policy reforms that promote responsible borrowing, debt relief, and economic policies that prioritize social justice. By pushing for transparent and fair debt restructuring , the movement seeks to create long-term change that benefits workers and citizens, rather than perpetuating cycles of economic dependency. Through sustained advocacy and solidarity, the Grand Bassam protest will contribute to a growing movement for economic sovereignty and justice across Africa.

Conclusion: A future without debt dependency

The Grand Bassam rally is more than a protest: it is a movement for a new economic paradigm that puts African workers, families and communities at the centre of economic decisions. The call for debt justice is a call for dignity, economic sovereignty and a future where African nations are not trapped in cycles of borrowing and repaying at the expense of their people.

ITUC-Africa and its affiliates are committed to challenging unjust debt systems, holding international donors to account, and advocating for policies that improve the lives of African workers and communities. The gathering in Côte d’Ivoire is a crucial step in this fight for economic justice, and its impact will resonate far beyond Grand Bassam, inspiring similar movements across the continent.

It is time to act. African workers, trade unions and citizens must unite to free their future from the grip of debt!