This paper investigates the vulnerability of oil exporter countries in Sub Saharan Africa to commodity price, exchange rate, and interest rate uncertainty. Although there are considerable differences among Sub Saharan Africa, they do share a number of common characteristics: heavy dependence on primary commodity exports, heavy reliance on outside aid, large debt burdens, poor infrastructure, and low level of education (see further Husain and Underwood 1991, Claessens and Qian 1993). An alternative to macroeconomic policies is the use of financial hedging instruments to stabilize the balance of payments.  The currency composition of a country’s external debt can serve as a hedging instrument against changes in exchange rates, interest rate, and commodity prices changes. Commodity price and exchange rate changes affect both exports and imports. Furthermore, if a country has debt obligations in currencies other than their own, then its debt servicing ability will be affected by changes in exchange rates and interest rates. This paper focuses on how a country can minimize its exposure to commodity price, exchange rate, and interest rates movements by structuring optimally the currency composition of its external debt relative to the costs of servicing the debt.  The high historical volatility of currencies and export and import prices has had serious implications for the government budgets of Sub Saharan countries, their economic stability and social welfare. A recent survey by the World Bank revealed that 70 percent of foreign borrowers in developing countries do not hedge their interest rate or exchange rate exposures. These African countries are particularly vulnerable because: (1) they have large international borrowing requirements and the resulting external debt is denominated in different currencies; (2) most of the external debt is in obligations with variable interest rates; and (3) their trade in primary commodities is significant. These countries can improve the risk characteristics of their balance of payments by holding an adequate level of foreign exchange reserves and borrowing in appropriate currency denominations. The currency composition of its external debt is a policy tool (debt composition is endogenous). This empirical investigation will determine if the U.S. Dollar or Euro denominated debts are more attractive and desirable for these countries, given their risk profiles.