The South African Government News Agency posted on 20 July 2026 a press release titled "South Africa, China Deepen AI and Science Partnership at Global Summit."
South Africa and China recently agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, joint research centers and laboratories, space science and astronomy, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and the Young Scientists Exchange Program.
CNBC published on 17 July 2026 an article titled "Xi Pitches China as AI Partner to Developing World, Warns Against Risks and Security Overreach" by Lim Hui Jie.
China is reaching out to various blocs of nations in the Global South to build partnerships concerning AI. The blocs include ASEAN, African Union, League of Arab States, and the BRICS.
Aljazeera published on 17 July 2026 an article titled "China's Xi Jinping Launches New AI Alliance: What Is It?"
Beijing is casting itself as a leader of the global AI order, challenging the position of the United States. China announced last week a coalition of 29 nations called the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) with a headquarters in Shanghai. Founding members include South Africa and Senegal.
In the meantime, Washington is retreating from global cyber and AI norms-setting processes and withdrawing its financial backing for cyber diplomacy more broadly.
The Atlantic Council published on 16 July 2026 a report titled "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of African Mining" by Anthony Carroll and Jef Karel Caers.
Colonial-era maps and infrastructure hinder access to the roughly 30 percent of global critical minerals in Africa. AI-powered mining and mapping tools could help expedite discovery, reduce drilling time, and modernize operations.
The United States should develop "smart mining" partnerships with African countries that advance US security objectives while providing long-term dividends for African nations.
The South China Morning Post published on 4 July 2026 an article titled "China's Influence on African Ports Extends to Software, Automation and AI: Study" by Jevans Nyabiage.
The article discusses those aspects of African port construction and operations where China has gained influence in the past twenty years or more. They include related infrastructure projects and all kinds of software and information technology.
Devdiscourse, a media platform for development stakeholders, posted on 13 May 2026 an article titled "SA and China Deepen Partnership in AI Education, Technical Skills and Student Mobility."
South Africa and China have agreed to expand significantly cooperation in digital education, artificial intelligence (AI), vocational training, and student mobility following discussions in Hangzhou. This is part of a broader effort to align education systems with industrial transformation, technological innovation, and future workforce demands.
The Diplomat published on 4 May 2026 a commentary titled "What China's AI Push Can Teach Africa about the Future of Labor" by Hannah Ryder and Huiyi Chen.
The authors argue that Africa should look at China's approach to dealing with AI and robotics in the workplace rather than the approach taken by Western countries. China works on the assumption that automation does not move in one direction, at one speed, or through one class of jobs. It can shift jobs from factory floors to office desks, from routine administration to design studios, and from manual repetition to communications and performance roles.
Comment: The authors draw sharper differences between China's response to AI in the job market and the approach of Western countries than the situation merits. They also assume a transition by the African labor force that may be more difficult to achieve than they suggest.
NAI 500 posted on 29 April 2026 an article titled "8 China-Africa AI Network Plays for 2026" by Jian Wu.
Huawei launched its upgraded Xinghe Intelligent Network in Cairo, demonstrating how China is exporting secure AI-ready connectivity. As African governments, banks, and universities digitize, Chinese companies are building lossless, automated networks that are green, secure, and at China's scale and cost curve.
The top Chinese AI infrastructure companies in Africa are China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, ZTE, Inspur Information, JinkoSolar, BYD, and China Communications Construction.
The Hinrich Foundation posted on 21 April 2026 an analysis titled "AI's Warning on the Risks of China's Export Push into the Global South."
This analysis was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) that looked at China's doubling down on exports as an engine for growth and its impact on the global economy. While Chinese exports to the United States declined significantly in the past year, they have surged to Africa and ASEAN.
AI predicts that China is transforming from being the world's consumer goods provider to the world's industrial goods provider. China is providing the industrial backbone for Africa, the world's fastest growing region. Beijing is ensuring that the next generation of global infrastructure is built on Chinese and not Western standards. This situation may trigger, however, protectionism in the Global South.
China-Africa Security Radar published on 21 March 2026 an article titled "Guinea's New Safe City Deal Pushes China's Surveillance Footprint to Nearly Half of Africa."
Guinea obtained a loan from China's Export-Import Bank to install urban surveillance systems across 324 sites in 8 cities. The stated purpose is to enhance public security, emergency response, urban planning, and governance.
At least 26 African countries now have Chinese safe city systems either operational, planned, or stalled. A key feature of these systems is facial recognition. The systems are often installed in a weak regulatory environment leaving them open to abuse.
The Institute of Development Studies published in March 2026 a major study titled "Smart City Surveillance in Africa: Mapping Chinese AI Surveillance Across 11 Countries" edited by Wairagala Wakabi and Tony Roberts.
The report provides a comprehensive account of smart city surveillance in Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. China is by far the largest supplier of AI surveillance technologies to African governments, including to all 11 covered in this study.
The rapid expansion of smart city surveillance is having a chilling effect on ordinary citizens and journalists. The scale and invasive nature of mass surveillance is often not legal, necessary, or proportionate. There is little evidence that the expansion of digital surveillance reduces overall crime.
WinBuzzer posted on 12 March 2026 an article titled "Microsoft Trains Millions in Africa to Counter DeepSeek" by Markus Kasanmascheff.
US Microsoft is racing to train millions of Africans on its artificial intelligence (AI) tools before Chinese rivals led by DeepSeek lock in the continent's fastest growing user base. DeepSeek has already captured 11 to 14 percent of the AI market in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Niger.
The South China Morning Post published on 5 March 2026 an article titled "Africa Emerges as New Arena in US-China Competition over Artificial Intelligence" by Lucy Quaggin.
Africa is increasingly seen as a critical region for artificial intelligence development because of its population and economic growth. By 2050, one quarter of the world's population will be in Africa. American and Chinese companies are competing for the African market and support to set standards.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published in February 2026 a major study titled "Artificial Intelligence for Africa's Defense Forces: A Toolkit for Defense Sector AI Strategy and Adoption."
This toolkit is a resource for African defense professionals to develop and adopt artificial intelligence policies, strategies, guidance, systems, and tools. It defines and illustrates some of the most relevant use cases, discusses how to guide the development of AI systems, processes, and personnel, suggests how to adapt AI to Africa's security environment, and outlines good practices that can be used to inform the development of defense sector AI strategy.
AI is no longer a futuristic prospect for Africa's defense forces, but an increasingly embedded tactical reality shaping military operations from the Sahel to the Cape. Like past inventions such as steam power, electricity, and the internet, AI is fast becoming an essential technology that will underpin the future of warfare.
Nanyang Technological University posted on 24 February 2026 an article titled "The State of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa" by Amit Jain.
This is a nice summary of the current state of artificial intelligence in Africa, the sectors that are most likely to benefit in the coming years, and the countries that are best positioned to take advantage of it.
The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs published on 7 February 2026 an article titled "The United States, China, and AI Competition in Africa: Lessons for the Global South" by Alice Chen and Neel U. Sukhalme.
This article (also posted below on 11 February) is a useful addition to this topic, which is fast becoming important to Africa's development.
The Lagos-based African Finance Corporation recently posted its "Compendium of Africa's Strategic Minerals 2026."
This is a major study of Africa's critical minerals, industrial minerals, uranium, and rare earths. It also noted that China controls about 90 percent of global manganese refining, approximately 90 percent of rare earth separation and refining, and dominates battery-grade graphite processing.
The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs published on 7 February 2026 an article titled "The United States, China, and AI Competition in Africa: Lessons for the Global South" by Alice Chen, Kobre & Kim LLP, and Neel U. Sukhatme, University of Michigan Law School.
The article compares US and Chinese approaches to artificial intelligence (AI) exports in Africa and examines how these disparate approaches have produced both downstream benefits and challenges for the region. Overall, the United States focus on domestic policy and corporate activity and China's focus on state strategy and infrastructure have presented unique opportunities and risks for African countries. It concludes with policy recommendations for countries in the Global South to maximize benefits and mitigate risks associated with US-China AI competition.
Memesita, an independent digital news organization based in New York, posted on 1 February 2026 an article titled "China-Africa Relations: Trade, Investment & the Global South (2026)."
The China-Africa relationship in 2026 will not be about concrete and steel but rather silicon and signals. A revolution is underway driven by digital infrastructure, fintech innovation, and a burgeoning tech ecosystem that is rapidly reshaping the economic and political landscape of the Global South.
GZERO Media posted on 22 January 2026 a five-minute clip from a conversation titled "Africa's AI Future: China or the West?"
Africa's AI future is not predetermined by technology, but by who shows up, who invests, and who builds the infrastructure first. China is showing up, the United States is not.
Capital Market Ethiopia posted on 14 January 2026 an article titled "IShowSpeed Touches Down in Ethiopia: Addis Ababa Braces for 'Speed Does Africa' Chaos."
American Darren Jason Watkins Jr., global streaming titan "IShowSpeed," arrived in Ethiopia after a historic visit to Kenya bringing his "Speed Does Africa" to the Horn of Africa. He was immediately engulfed by a sea of Ethiopians.
Ethiopia Insight published on 21 January 2026 a commentary titled "Ethiopia Goes Viral with IShowSpeed, Moment for Reflection" by Fenet Bedaso, Africa Development and Research Center.
The author explains that his visit placed Ethiopia, briefly but unmistakably, at the center of global online conversation.
Comment: While official US influence in Africa continues to slip, unofficial American soft power remains very much alive and well.
South Africa's The Star published on 21 December 2025 an article titled "Empowering Africa: How China's Tech Cooperation Fuels Progress" by Gideon Chitanga.
The article argues that Chinese government and companies have become critical partners in the development of Africa's digital systems and information and communications technology. For example, Huawei has constructed an estimated 70 percent of Africa's 4-G networks.
