Olivier Pognon is the chief executive officer of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF). Established in 2008 under a treaty signed by African countries, the ALSF was set up to help African countries escape the trap of exploitative vulture funds – hedge or private-equity funds that invests in debt considered to be very weak or in default, known as distressed debt.
Since 2008, the ALSF, an independent organisation hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) at inception, has helped African governments recover over $18bn in sovereign debt negotiations and unlock $72bn in private investment – all through expert legal support on complex contracts in areas including infrastructure, energy, natural resources, and public-private…
