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    • Opinion
    • Opinion: Food systems

    Africa can feed the world if the G20 frees it from debt

    Opinion: Crushing debt in Africa is diverting resources from agriculture — the continent's greatest potential. The G20 summit is a test of whether the world will finally allow Africa to invest in its own future.

    By Hailemariam Dessalegn // 17 November 2025

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    This month, the G20 meets in Africa for the first time. The summit in Johannesburg will gather world leaders on a continent that holds 60% of the planet’s uncultivated arable land, yet spends billions importing food.

    The meeting is more than symbolic. It is a test of whether the global financial system will finally allow Africa to invest in its own future, starting with agriculture.

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    Read more:

    ► Alice Ruhweza's vision for AGRA and African agriculture

    ► Aid cuts spark a rethink of African food systems rooted in agroecology

    ► Opinion: 2025, a year for Africa's pivot to sustainable agriculture

    • Agriculture & Rural Development
    • Banking & Finance
    • Economic Development
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).
    The views in this opinion piece do not necessarily reflect Devex's editorial views.

    About the author

    • Hailemariam Dessalegn

      Hailemariam Dessalegn

      Hailemariam Dessalegn served as Ethiopia’s prime minister from 2012 to 2018. He now chairs the Africa Food Systems Forum, the continent’s largest gathering of leaders, development partners, and business figures dedicated to transforming Africa’s food systems.

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