Guinea PM dismisses China ’debt trap’ criticism

Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah has dismissed claims that China is luring African countries into a ‘debt trap’, arguing that the continent's development challenges stem more from domestic governance than from its international partnerships, reports africanews. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China, Bah said African governments must take primary responsibility for ensuring that development partnerships deliver tangible benefits to their citizens. Bah said that while international co-operation can create opportunities, success ultimately depends on how African governments manage those opportunities through sound governance and effective institutions. He argued that countries which fail to capitalise on development partnerships often shift the blame to debt or external actors, rather than addressing internal shortcomings. Bah's remarks come as China's role in financing infrastructure and development projects across Africa continues to generate debate over debt sustainability and the long-term impact of Chinese lending on the continent.

Full africanews report