France holds global talks to offer debt relief for Sudan

The French government promised Monday to lend $1.5 billion to Sudan to help it pay off its massive foreign debt, kicking off an international summit aimed at helping the aspiring democracy emerge from decades of authoritarian rule. The conference hosted by President Emmanuel Macron aims to provide financing breathing room for Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok as he pursues economic reforms while paying off a foreign debt bill of $60 billion.