China-Africa Trade Favors China

 The Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria published on 2 September 2025 an analysis titled "Africa-China Trade: Openness Without Industry" by Marvellous Ngundu.  

China has been the major contributor to Africa's trade imbalance for the past decade, and the situation could worsen as China seeks to sell goods previously destined for the United States to other markets.  In 2024, a quarter of Africa's imports came from China while less than a fifth of Africa's exports went to China.  Angola, South Africa, and the DRC accounted for more than half of Africa's exports to China, comprising mostly oil, cobalt, copper, ore, slag, and ashes.  By contrast, Africa has had a consistent trade surplus with the United States.  

Chinese Surveillance Systems in Africa

 Instituto Analisi Relazioni Internazionali published on 9 September 2025 an article titled "Chinese Surveillance Systems in Africa: A SWOT Analysis" by Daniele Balducci.

Some 22 African countries have contracted with Chinese companies for the acquisition of digital surveillance technologies.  African countries have a variety of reasons for turning to Chinese companies, including affordable prices and wanting to diversify their sourcing.  The article identifies strengths and weaknesses of partnering with Chinese companies.  

China Propagates Its Global Governance Initiative Across Africa

 The China-Global South Project posted on 15 September 2025 a commentary titled "China Launches Coordinated Media Campaign to Promote New Global Governance Initiative in Africa" by Eric Olander.

Chinese state media and surrogates have launched a media campaign in Africa to promote China's Global Governance Initiative (GGI) across the continent.  The goal is to propagandize the GGI to the widest possible African audience.  

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has posted a "Concept Paper on the Global Governance Initiative."

Comment:  The GGI is part of China's effort to seize leadership, especially in the Global South, from the West of the basic guiding principles of governance.  

China-Africa Space Cooperation

 China-Africa Security Radar posted on 15 September 2025 an article titled "China in Africa's Space Age."

African countries are looking for practical applications of space technology.  China is increasingly meeting African needs but comes with two concerns: unsustainable debt and control over information.  

China-Africa Higher Education Collaboration

 University World News published on 7 August 2025 an article titled "More Oxygen for Africa-China Higher Education Collaboration" by Clemence Manyukwe.

This is a useful summary of China-Africa higher education collaboration.  About 81,000 African students have studied in Chinese universities over the past two decades and current enrollment exceeds 50,000 students.  Chinese universities have established formal partnerships with over 350 African universities in 54 countries.  There are 61 Confucius Institutes and 48 Confucius Classrooms across Africa.  

China. Africa, and the Environment

 Global Voices posted on 7 September 2025 a commentary titled "How Is Africa Benefiting from China's Global Renewable Push?" by Jean Sovon and Vivian Wu.

China positions itself as a champion for renewable energy in Africa while financing large projects that exploit coal and oil.  The authors ask how African countries can reconcile a partnership aimed at implementing the principles of environmental justice.  

China's Vocational Training Program in Africa

 Capital Ethiopia published on 19 August 2025 an article titled "China-Africa Partnership Strengthens Vocational Training to Boost Africa's Workforce" by Eyasu Aklilu.   

China has established 17 Luban workshops (vocational training centers) in 15 African countries with plans to establish 10 more.  China hosted last month a seminar in Ethiopia highlighting the Luban workshop program.  

China and US Space Competition: A Place for Africa?

 Msn.com posted on 12 September 2025 an article titled "Africa Could Become the New Frontier for Space Programs" by Justin Klawans.

China is actively engaging with African countries on cooperation in outer space.  The United States has been less engaged.  This is an opportunity for the Trump administration to become more active in an area of potential mutual benefit.  

China Reshapes Africa's Media Landscape

 The blog for the SOAS China Institute at the University of London published on 30 July 2025 a commentary titled "How China Is Reshaping Africa's Information and Media Landscape" by Daouda Cisse, Gaston Berger University in Senegal.  

Chinese state media outlets like CGTN, Xinhua, and China Daily are now common features in African media spaces.  Beijing is helping to reshape Africa's media and governance landscape.  The issue becomes how African governments can benefit without compromising press freedom, data privacy, or democratic values.

Scenarios for China-Africa Trade During Tariff War

 Nanyang Technological University posted on 5 September 2025 an analysis titled "China-Africa Trade Scenarios Amid Global Tariff War" by Rafiq Raji.

The author identifies 4 China-Africa trade scenarios emerging from the global tariff war.  (1) China continues to sell Africa manufactured goods and buy raw materials, resulting in growing African trade deficits.  (2)  China has excess manufacturing capacity and uses Africa as a dumping ground for Chinese goods. (3)  African countries exchange higher Chinese investment in mineral extraction for more value-added manufacturing capacity. (4)  Chinese firms invest in the production of manufactured goods from extracted raw materials both in Africa as well as upstream processing that plugs into global value chains.

China's Exports to Africa Surge While They Decline to US

 The New York Times published on 8 September 2025 an article titled "China's Exports to Africa Are Soaring as Trade to U.S. Plunges" by Daisuke Wakabayashi and Musinguzi Blanshe.  

China has gained a $60 billion trade surplus with Africa through August of this year.  It has exported $141 billion of goods and services to Africa as of the end of August and imported $81 billion from Africa.  China's exports to the United States have plunged 33 percent while those to Africa increased 26 percent.  As the US dismantles its foreign aid program and pulls back from Africa, China is presenting itself as an economic counterbalance.  

Comment:  The downside for Africa, however, is a long standing and increasing trade deficit with China, which even the elimination of Chinese tariffs cannot seem to reverse.  

Commercial Ship Apparently Responsible for Red Sea Cable Cutting

 The Associated Press published on 8 September 2025 an article titled "Commercial Shipping Likely Cut Red Sea Cables that Disrupted Internet Access, Experts Say" by Jon Gambrell.

A commercial ship dragging an anchor likely cut the four undersea cables in the Red Sea that disrupted internet access in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Countering China's Security Engagement in Africa

 The Atlantic Council published in August 2025 a paper titled "Addressing China's Military Expansion in West Africa and Beyond" by Tressa Guenov.

The United States needs to develop a strategic approach to Africa that addresses all Chinese security-related initiatives on the continent.  This is not the time for Washington to be pushing back from a region as important as Africa.

China: Falling Crude Oil Imports from Africa

 Visual Capitalist published on 2 September 2025 a chart titled "Visualizing China's Crude Oil Imports by Country" by Dorothy Neufeld and Joyce Ma.

The chart shows China's crude oil imports by major source in 2024.  African countries accounted for less than 9 percent of China's total imports.  This percentage has been steadily declining over the last 15 years but has stabilized in the last couple of years at this low level.

By comparison, in 2024 China received 57 percent of its crude from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, and Iran.  Another 20 percent came from Russia.    

Trump Administration Shrinks National Security Council

 The Wall Street Journal published on 30 August 2025 an article titled "Trump Turns to Small Group of Advisers, Shrinks National Security Council" by Alexander Ward and Robbie Gramer.

The Trump administration has downgraded the role of the National Security Council and reduced the staff to less than 150 compared to about 400 in previous administrations.  The change leaves President Trump reliant on a handful of senior advisers for guidance on foreign policy.

Sharp Increase in Chinese Exports to Africa

Business Insider Africa published on 27 August 2025 an article titled "Africa Is Becoming One of China's Favorite Markets, And Trump May Have Helped" by Chinedu Okafor.  

Chinese exports to Africa have increased by 25 percent year on year to $122 billion during the first half of 2025.  At the same time, orders from the United States have declined.  Increased US tariffs and a weaker Chinese currency have made it more attractive to purchase goods from China.  The downside of this situation for Africa is a growing trade deficit with China

Large Increase in African Solar Imports from China

 Ember, a global energy think tank, published on 26 August 2025 a report titled "The First Evidence of a Take-off in Solar in Africa" by Dave Jones.

The report presents Ember's analysis of Africa's imports of solar panels from China.  African imports from China rose 60 percent in the last 12 months to 15,032 MW.  Over the last two years, the imports of solar panels outside of South Africa have nearly tripled from 3,734 MW to 11,248 MW.  Twenty African countries set a new record for the import of solar panels in the 12 months to June 2025.

China, Safe Cities, and Security in Africa

 China-Africa Security Radar posted on 24 August 2025 an article titled "China's Recasting of Safe Cities in Africa."

A Chinese safe city project in Sierra Leone is being described as a "concrete measure to implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI)."  This raises questions as to how China defines security and views both GSI and safe cities in Africa. 

Gabon Acquires Chinese Military Equipment

 Defence Blog posted on 19 August 2025 an article titled "Gabon Receives Chinese-made VN-1 Fighting Vehicles" by Daisuke Soto.

Gabon unveiled newly acquired Chinese eight-wheeled VN-1 infantry fighting vehicles and the WMA-301 105mm wheeled assault gun during its independence day military parade.  This is another indication that Chinese military equipment companies are increasing their footprint in Africa at a price point accessible to smaller economies.  

China's Approach to Counterterrorism in Africa

 The CTC Sentinel published in its August 2025 issue an article titled "Understanding China's New Counterterrorism Ambitions in Africa" by Jason Warner.

The author argues that despite ostensible rationales related to self-defense of economic interests and solidarity with African states, at its core, Beijing's primary motivations for entering the African counterterrorism space are to diversify its means of influence in Africa beyond its historical economics first approach.

Beijing likely believes it has a new genre of counterterrorism assistance--less kinetic, more economic, and rooted in equitable partnerships--that represents a fundamentally new and productive means of gaining influence in Africa.