The Star published on 11 December 2025 an article titled "China Rolls Out Space Expansion in Kenya amid Intensifying Rivalry with US in Africa" by Eliud Kibii.
The Kenya Space Agency recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Oriental Space Port Research Institute of China. Beijing is competing with Washington for Kenya's collaboration in space and facilities on the ground. This could place Kenya at the center of great power rivalry.
Deutsche Welle published on 12 December 2025 an article titled "Africa at the Center of US-China Resource Race" by David Ehi.
In 2023, American companies invested more in Africa than did Chinese companies. But figures for one year are misleading. In recent years, Chinese companies have invested more in the continent than American companies.
The author argues that US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa is focused on making a profit for the investing company. Chinese FDI, ultimately backed by the government of China, pursues long-term strategic goals, especially in the critical minerals sector.
Business in Cameroon published on 12 December 2025 an article titled "Cameroon-China Trade Pact Opens Door to Tarriff-Free Push for Cameroon Exports."
Cameroon and China have begun negotiations aimed at securing full, duty-free access for Cameroonian products to the Chinese market. China is Cameroon's largest trading partner and has a significant trade surplus with the country.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 9 December 2025 a paper titled "China's Critical Minerals Strategy in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.
China controls over half of global critical minerals production and an estimated 87 percent of its processing and refining capacity. It also produces nearly 70 percent of rare earth minerals.
China's strategy for dominance in critical minerals includes a tolerance for high-risk projects, generous government support to Chinese companies, diversified access to minerals, financial support of African infrastructure linked to mineral extraction, financing the development of African mineral projects, and strategic stockpiling of critical minerals in China.
The Wall Street Journal published on 4 December 2025 an article titled "A Sprawling Fraud Scandal Puts Minnesota's Somali Community in the Spotlight" by Scott Calvert and Jeanne Whalen.
About 80,000 people of Somali descent live in Minnesota. About 60 persons have been convicted of massive fraud from child nutrition, housing, and autism service programs funded by taxpayers. President Trump has used the situation to refer to the Somali community in Minnesota as "garbage" and urged them to return to Somalia.
Comment: This episode is clearly a major blot on the reputation of the Somali community in Minnesota. But the answer is to prosecute to the full extent of the law all of those persons who are guilty and not to vilify the entire Somali community.
Radio Nigeria posted on 8 December 2025 an article titled "Nigeria, China Deepen Strategic Ties, Pledge Stronger Economic, Security Cooperation" by Sandra Chukwugekwu.
China's ambassador to Nigeria and Nigeria's minister of foreign affairs met to reaffirm Beijing's political support for Abuja. The ambassador aligned China with the minister's "concerns over the mischaracterisation of regional crises by external actors."
Comment: This is a lightly veiled reference to the inaccurate allegations by the United States of anti-Christian policies by the Nigerian government. China is taking advantage of the situation by reinforcing its ties with Abuja. It is following a similar strategy in South Africa where US ties have also reached a low point.
AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 11 December 2025 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces' capture of the Heglig oil field in South Sudan has intensified the Sudan crisis and brought South Sudan to the brink of war.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 10 December 2025 a press release titled "Ethiopian TikTok Journalist Eyob Shimelis Detained after Corruption Reporting."
Ethiopian authorities arrested on December 1 the founder and reporter of TikTok-based Sidama News, which reports on corruption in Ethiopia's southern Sidama state.
Bloomberg published on 10 December 2025 an article titled "South Sudan Oil Exports at Risk" by Simon Marks and Salma El Wardany.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the strategic Heglig oil field in South Sudan near the border with Sudan. The crude from Heglig is transported by pipeline through Sudan to Port Sudan on the Red Sea. South Sudan obtains nearly all of its state revenue from oil exports. The seizure of the oil field by the RSF raises the prospect of a halt in South Sudanese oil exports and the loss of pipeline revenue for the Sudan Armed Forces.
The People's Map of Global China published on 25 November 2025 a paper titled "Madagascar" by Xuefei Shi, a development researcher based in Bergen, Norway.
This is a nice summary of the relationship between Madagascar and China. It covers historical ties as well as the current relationship.
B & FT Online posted on 10 December 2025 an article titled "Africa's Huge Trade Deficit: A Case of Lagging Processing Power" by Brian Muloni.
In 2024, Africa's trade deficit with China, its largest trade partner, was $61 billion and it is on track to worsen significantly in 2025. There are several reasons for this long-standing trade deficit with China, but the most important factor is that African exports to China are mainly raw materials while imports from China are mainly finished or manufactured goods.
South Africa's Department of Science, Technology and Innovation issued on 8 December 2025 a press release titled "South Africa and China Strengthen Cooperation among Young Scientists."
A visiting Chinese delegation signed with South Africa's deputy minister of science, technology and innovation a memorandum of understanding to expand technical opportunities for young scientists from South Africa and China.
Comment: As US-South Africa relations continue to deteriorate, they are expanding at all levels with China.
Capital FM published on 9 December 2025 an article titled "Kenya, China Hold High-Level Security Review on Bilateral Projects" by Bruhan Makong.
Reflecting Chinese concerns about security for its personnel working on infrastructure projects in Kenya, its deputy director general for security cooperation led a delegation to Nairobi to discuss the safety of Chinese nationals, project sites, and equipment undertaken through Kenya-China cooperation.
The Associated Press published on 9 December 2025 an article titled "Ethiopia Embraces Big Projects but Risks Another War by Seeking Access to the Sea" by Fred Harter.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is determined to obtain access to the Red Sea for landlocked Ethiopia. But this goal risks a miscalculation and the possibility of war with neighboring Eritrea.
Kenya's The Star published on 9 December 2025 an article titled "Experts Share Insights on Advancing China-Africa Modernization at Hong Ting Forum in Kenya."
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Xinhua News Agency hosted in Nairobi on 4 December the Hong Ting Forum to discuss innovative ways of advancing China-Africa modernization. It brought together government officials, think tank representatives, and media practitioners. One of the African participants said the China-Africa relationship is being redefined to focus more on software, including skills and technology transfer, cultural exchanges, and green development.
Comment: On April 2, 2025, Xinhua News Agency but not the CPC hosted the Hong Ting Forum in Nairobi. It is not clear why these sessions took place so close together.
The Steady State published on 5 December 2025 a commentary titled "Destroying American Diplomacy: Pulling Down Our First Line of Defense" by Charles A. Ray, who spent 20 years in the US Army and 30 years in the US State Department as a Foreign Service Officer and two-time ambassador.
Ray details how the Trump administration, as it seeks to end the so-called "deep state," is destroying the State Department and US Foreign Service in the process.
The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in December 2025 a study titled "Building Resilient Cities: Environmental Protection and Construction Safety in Somalia's Urban Development" by Abdullahi Ali Mohamed.
The study highlights how unregulated construction, environmental degradation and intensifying climate shocks are reinforcing urban fragility amid weak institutional capacity. It outlines an integrated policy framework focused on sustainable urban planning, professionalizing the construction sector, and strengthening climate resilience.
Lokmat Times published on 5 December 2025 an article titled "Africa Faces Growing Cybercrime as China Linked Syndicates Expand Operations."
Nigeria is emerging as the epicenter of a cybercrime crisis that is engulfing Africa. In late 2024 and early 2025, coordinated raids in Lagos and Abuja resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,000 suspects, including 177 Chinese nationals. These syndicates siphon tens of billions of dollars annually through fake investments, romance schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud.
African governments are operating in an uncomfortable situation. They are dependent on Chinese economic partnerships while they need to confront criminal networks that involve Chinese nationals.
The International Crisis Group posted on 8 December 2025 a 38-minute podcast titled "Global Disorder, Horn of Africa Turmoil. Can Europe Keep Up?" with Alan Boswell and Heiko Nitzschke, Germany's special envoy for the Horn of Africa based in Nairobi.
Maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden looms large in the policies of Germany and Europe. The Horn of Africa is increasingly being impacted by multilateralism. Europe is only one among many engaged players in the Horn. African countries in the region ultimately will determine the role that Europe plays. Europe's strength is the reliability of its interest and engagement. Its priority for the conflict in Sudan is to achieve a ceasefire and ameliorate the humanitarian crisis.
US foreign aid cuts sent shockwaves through European and Horn of Africa capitals. European countries are trying to fill some of the gaps left by the United States, but they too are turning increasingly to private investment. US policy in the region has also become more unpredictable. A new order is emerging in the Horn, especially with greater involvement of the Gulf States and Türkiye. Finally, Nitzschke expressed concern there is now a serious risk of renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Business Day published on 5 December 2025 an article titled "Gunmen Abduct Two Chinese Nationals in Kwara Amid Rising Kidnapping Cases" by Adeola Ajakalye.
Armed men kidnapped on 1 December two Chinese nationals working on a road construction project in Nigeria's Kwara State. There has been a troubling surge of kidnappings in Kwara State.
SwissAid published on 21 November 2025 a document titled "Africa Gold Report: South Sudan."
Gold mining in South Sudan, a medium-size gold producer by African standards, is highly informal and illegal. Gold production is done exclusively by artisanal and small-scale mining methods. All the gold is exported outside formal channels. National and foreign armed groups are involved in its movement. South Sudanese authorities have failed to govern the sector effectively.
China-Africa Security Radar posted on 7 December 2025 an article titled "Africa Increasingly Aligning with China's Global Security Initiative."
Senior African Union officials are underscoring the strategic alignment of China's Global Security Initiative (GSI) with the doctrine of African solutions to African problems. Africa has become a testing ground for GSI.
But there are drawbacks to the GSI. For example, it lacks a clear operational definition, detailed criteria for participation, or concrete benchmarks for implementation.
The African Union posted on 1 December 2025 a news release titled "African Union Permanent Mission to China Convenes Strategic Retreat to Enhance Alignment, Coordination, and Implementation of the FOCAC Commitments and Agenda 2063."
The African Union Permanent Mission to China and the African group of ambassadors in China organized on 2-3 December 2025 a session to review the FOCAC Action Plan 2025-2027 and coordinate it with the AU's Agenda 2063. The African side expressed a desire to focus on promotion of industrialization, mineral cooperation, infrastructure development, agricultural modernization, food security, and pharmaceuticals.
Uganda's The Observer published on 5 December 2025 an article titled "China's Payment System Gains Ground in Africa as Afrexim, Standard Join In."
Afreximbank, Africa's multilateral trade bank, became the first major African institution to join China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), enabling direct and cheaper yuan transactions. Standard Bank Group, the continent's largest lender, followed suit. CIPS gives China an alternative to the Western world's SWIFT.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) owns 20 percent of the Standard Bank Group while the Export-Import Bank of China holds at least 6 percent of Afreximbank.
The Washington Post published on 4 December 2025 an article titled "Minnesota, Known for a Warm Welcome, Turns Icy for Somali Immigrants" by Caroline O'Donovan and Emmanuel Felton.
A combination of disparaging remarks by President Trump about the Somali community in Minnesota and recent raids in the Twin Cities by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have instilled a sense of fear among Somali Americans.
