353. stagnation in the level of real. foreign aiat in the face of sluggish export.earnings and rising needs for development ind emergency food meant that the Africancountries had to borron as much as they could, to Ehe point that they now face aserious forej.gn debt problem. By 19g2, the low_lncome African countries had atotal outstanding foreign debt higher than g4B billion. The most indebtedsub-saharan African countries are Nigeria, the lvory Coast, the Sudan and Zaire,each nith a debt of over g5 billion in 1992. Thus, rrhile the foreign debt of theLatln American countries is much rarger in absorute terms, many African countriesalso have a very heavy foreign debt. burd€n relative to their levels of GDp andexports (see table 64). Table 64. Foreign debt service of tteveLoping counEry groups As a percentage of cDp1970 1982As a percentage of exports of 1982 Low-income African countr ies A11 low-income countriesAII middle-income developing countries A11 upper-income developing countr iesL.2 I.1 1.6 1<2.7 1.1 3.7 4.4tt.3 9.2 10.78.8 tb.6 ro.v , p. 69. Egurce: Vlor Id Bank,A/40 /5r9 English Page I80 354. Debt service as a percentage of GDP and of exports of goods and services flKtre than doubLed from 1970 to 1982 for the low-income African countries' and by L982 ib was much larger tban the debt service of all low-income developing countrres' while the middle- and upper-income developing countries have larger debt service burdens, these countries include some very effi'cient and successful exporters' inclutling the newly industrializing countries and areas, such as BraziLt Hong Kong 'the Republ.ic of Korea and sinqapore, which may be in a better positlon to deal nith their.debt. burdens than the low-income African countries' A more appiopriace conparison of the debt service problem of the lolr-lncome African countries is ttith the other los-income developing countries, llpst of which are in a much better debt pogltion. C. Development Prospects 355. lihe development prospects for Africa can be assessed by projecting historical
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the economic situation of African countries, specifically their foreign debt and debt service burden. It also mentions the prospects for economic development in Africa. The text does not mention any environmental, agricultural, or cultural issues, and does not provide information on natural resources, industry, transport, communication, health, education, employment, or humanitarian aid and relief. The focus is on economic development and international trade.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade