Capital flight from Africa, especially the illicit kind, is a far larger drain on the countries of the continent than previously thought and exceeds foreign loans and investment flows. PERI’s Leonce Ndikumana discusses his research findings

Africa as a Creditor to the World challenges the dominant narrative that portrays Africa primarily as a debtor or aid-dependent continent. In reality, Africa contributes immense value to the global economy through the extraction of natural resources, human labor, cultural exports, and capital outflows, often without fair compensation. Africa is not a passive recipient but a net creditor to the world—subsidizing wealthier nations while receiving little in return. Recognizing this truth is essential to reshaping global economic justice and advocating for policies that honor Africa’s contributions with fairness, restitution, and sovereignty.