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10 billion dollars for sub-Saharan Africa

Published: Monday 25 May 2009 19:53 UTC
Last updated: Monday 25 May 2009 19:53 UTC
IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has announced that the International Monetary Fund will make at least 10 billion dollars available to sub-Saharan African countries. He made his announcement at the end of a three-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The money will be made available in so-called Special Drawing Rights to be issued in the coming months. The beneficiaries can trade the SDR's to boost foreign currency reserves.

The additional financial support, intended to help the poorest of African countries weather the financial crisis, is the result of agreements concluded at the G20 summit held in London in April.