Across Africa, the impacts of International Financial Institutions on our economies, societies, and human rights have been disastrous and are increasingly being challenged. Debt-related policies, austerity measures, and structural adjustment programs have contributed to deepening poverty, inequality, and social disintegration in many countries.  

These impacts are not only recognized by civil society but, in some cases, even officially acknowledged by governments and public authorities themselves. 

Tunisia offers a key example. Through its transitional justice process, the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) issued an official Memo in 20192 addressed to the IMF and World Bank, explicitly demanding recognition of human rights violations, reparations, and debt cancellation for the harm caused by decades of externally imposed economic policies.  

Alongside such official mechanisms, numerous citizen-led, civic, and diplomatic initiatives; including people’s tribunals and citizen debt audits have emerged across the continent have pushed the request for the accountability of these multilateral lenders. 

Today, at the continental level, the African Union has declared 2025 the “Year for Reparations,” providing a unique opportunity to align national, civic, and continental efforts in a collective push for justice and accountability. 

This session will explore how the Tunisian Memo can serve as a catalyst to strengthen these strategies, bridge national efforts with continental frameworks, and help articulate African-led pathways for securing reparations and transforming the lending frameworks of IFIs. 

Related Publications 

Key OTE Publications on IFIs, Debt & Reparations: