Next Africa: Escaping Debt, Famine and Keeping the Lights On

A chunk of copper ore rock in Mufulira, Zambia.

Photographer: Zinyange Auntony/Bloomberg

Welcome to Next Africa, a weekly newsletter on where the continent stands now — and where it’s headed.

At the start of 2022, sub-Saharan Africa was reeling from Covid-19. The year is ending with many nations staring down another crisis: unsustainable debt.