Tuesday, December 3, 2019

China's Belt and Road Initiative and Africa

The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in South Africa is preparing a report titled "Africa and the World: Navigating Shifting Geopolitics." It has just posted the chapter titled "China's Belt and Road Initiative: How Can Africa Advance Its Strategic Priorities?" by Philani Mthembu.

The author concludes that Africa can advance its interests through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), especially along the Indian Ocean perimeter given its strategic value for China's supply lines. African countries need to coordinate through their regional economic communities and the African Union in order to ensure that BRI projects advance the stratgic priorities agreed in Agenda 2063 and various regional strategies. African stakeholders must also increase their own maritime capabilities and be prepared to mediate in their own interests when tensions flare up among the great powers as the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean increases.