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Fact Check: Angola is NOT a Good Case Study of Chinese Debt in Africa

by Eric Olander

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Forecasting Director Agathe Demarais characterized China’s loan portfolio in Angola as “a good case study” for Beijing’s financial engagement across Africa. “Not really,” replied Hannah Ryder, CEO of the Beijing-based consultancy Development Reimagined, “it’s more of an outlier” she rightly pointed out.

In fact, it’s the extreme exception. Angola has borrowed far more than any other country in Africa. Also, consider that only about five or six countries on the continent face debt distress due to Chinese loans, so this really isn’t a pan-African issue as she framed the issue in her Tweet.

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