Africa International People's Tribunal

The African People Vs. the International Monetary Fund & the World Bank
18th & 19th June 2025; Lilongwe, Malawi

ABOUT THE TRIBUNAL

Economic Justice for Africa!

The Africa International People’s Tribunal is a civil society-led initiative to publicly indict the IMF and World Bank for policies that have entrenched Africa’s debt crisis, undermined public services, and driven inequality.

Through decades of structural adjustment programs, austerity-driven loan conditionalities, and policy influence over national budgets, these institutions have promoted debt-dependent development models that prioritise creditor repayment and macroeconomic “stability” over inclusive growth.

The Tribunal will hear testimonies on how these accused institutions’ austerity measures and debt-driven models harm African development, with the goal of raising awareness, advocating for debt cancellation, and pushing for reforms that prioritise people over creditors.

The Accusations

Accusations

Judges

Advocates

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Witnesses & Victims

Forcing debt-driven development that prioritises creditors over citizens

IMF and World Bank policies push African governments to borrow repeatedly, promote privatisation and austerity, and trap nations in a cycle of debt, undermining genuine economic growth and ignoring local voices.

Imposing austerity that undermines social protection and human rights

Loan conditions force cuts to health, education, and social spending so governments can pay debts, causing suffering, especially among women and marginalised groups, and making governments choose debt payments over public welfare.

Excluding African voices and enforcing market-based, anti-democratic policies

Decision-making is dominated by donors; IMF and World Bank promote policies that sideline African participation and favor privatization and fiscal tightening, deepening inequality and eroding essential services.

Maintaining a global financial system rooted in colonial legacy and exploitation

These institutions uphold unfair financial rules, costly climate financing, and undemocratic governance structures that benefit wealthy countries, exacerbate climate injustice, and perpetuate historic inequalities in Africa.