The Diplomat pubished on 5 May 2022 a commentary titled "Why Did Chinese Loans to Africa Fall So Much in 2020?" by Etsehiwot Kebret and Yike Fu.
The authors argue that Chinese loans to Africa fell dramatically in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 and pressure from international organizations to avoid debt.
Comment: While these are valid explanations, the sharp drop in Chinese loans to Africa was well underway before the impact of COVID-19 in 2020. China has also realigned its priorities in Africa away from financing large infrastructure projects and towards increased trade and foreign direct investment.
