Over the past five years, sub-Saharan Africa has weathered a relentless series of shocks: the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, surging global inflation and now, rapidly changing trade policies and declining aid. These shocks have left lasting economic scars and contributed to a rise in public debt across much of the region. Median public debt increased from 48.9 percent of GDP in 2019 to 57.4 percent five years later. Through difficult reforms and macroeconomic adjustments, debt levels have now stabilised and in some cases decreased. But debt-service burdens remain very high. [...]