The world’s richest nations have agreed to cancel debt owed by 18 of the world’s poorest countries including many in sub-Saharan Africa. The announcement comes after years of protests by activist groups including the Jubilee Debt Campaign calling on the United States and other nations to cancel the tens of billions of debt that have economically crippled nations in Africa and Latin America. Mozambique’s Prime Minister Luisa Diogo said “This is an important decision that means we can have more money saved from debt servicing being directed to education, health, infrastructure and social sectors.” While the Jubilee debt campaign praised the move as a needed first step, it said there are more than 40 other nations that need total debt cancellation.