China Links Communist Party to China-Africa Cooperation

 Ethiopia's Capital published on 12 July 2026 an op-ed titled "A 105-year Journey of Struggle: The Code of China's Development and a New Chapter in China-Africa Cooperation" by Ambassador Jiang Feng, head of China's mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  

The op-ed begins: "On July 1st, the Communist Party of China (CPC) marked the 105th anniversary of its founding.  For the Chinese people, it is an important occasion to reflect on the nation's journey of struggle and achievement while looking ahead to the bright prospects.  For our African friends who are interested in China's development, it also offers an important opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the key to China's development."  

The op-ed continues to praise the progress made by the CPC and suggests that China's model of development offers lessons for African countries.

Comment:  The Mission of China to the African Union website posted the same op-ed on 7 July.  It is not clear if Capital published the op-ed because it considered the ambassador's remarks newsworthy or there was some other incentive.

Ethiopia's Economy Moves from China Model to Africa's Free Agent

 Forbes published on 1 July 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia: From China's Star Pupil to Africa's Free Agent" by Wesley Alexander Hill.

For years, China found an eager partner in Meles Zenawi's Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, which ruled Ethiopia and embraced elements of China's development model.  It delivered impressive economic growth for many years, but it also contained structural weaknesses that Beijing's own system largely avoided.  

The rise of Abiy Ahmed marked the end of this era.  Ethiopia's current economic strategy represents one of Africa's most consequential experiments in macroeconomic liberalization.

Communist Party of China Deepens Ties with Six Ruling Parties in Southern Africa

 The Respondents posted on 20 May 2026 an article titled "CCM, China's CPC Deepen Ties with Southern African Liberation Parties."

Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi hosted a meeting with the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China and senior leaders from the ruling political parties in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.  The parties launched the Research Centre for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. 

The Communist Party of China Reaches Out to Africa

 E-International Relations posted on 1 April 2026 my short paper titled "The Communist Party of China Reaches Out to Africa."

This is a post-COVID-19 update of efforts by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (ID-CPC) to strengthen ties with political parties in Africa.  COVID-19 significantly interrupted the ID-CPC's interaction with African political parties. The ID-CPC has now returned to a high degree of engagement with them.     

Leader of South African Communist Party Visits China

 Friends of Socialist China posted on 25 March 2026 an article titled "South African Communist Party Visits China."

A delegation of the South African Communist Party (SACP) led by Solly Afrika Mapaila, the general secretary of the party, met in mid-March with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC).  The SACP is part of the ruling coalition in South Africa.

The two parties agreed to strengthen communication, exchanges, and party building.  

Impact of Chinese State-Owned Enterprises in Africa

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 17 March 2026 an analysis titled "Chinese State-Owned Enterprises and Market Capture in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.

China has the largest state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector in the world, accounting for about 20 percent of China's GDP.  African economic sectors such as mining, railways, and power generation can become dominated by large Chinese SOEs.  They can then out compete African companies and other investors, create supply chain dependence on Chinese firms, and reduce the bargaining power of African governments.  

Kenya's Ruling Party to Model Training After and Seeks Funding from Communist Party of China

 Kenyans.co.ke posted on 31 January 2026 an article titled "Ruto to Launch Political School for UDA Using Communist Party of China Framework" by Maxwell Amunga.

A senior delegation from Kenya's ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is in China studying the Communist Party of China's (CPC) organization, cadre training, and grassroots mobilization.  The delegation aims to incorporate best practices in political discipline, governance structures, and leadership development.

The Star published on 31 January 2026 an article titled "Top UDA Officials in China Ahead of Launch of UDA Party School" by Felix Kipkemoi.  

This article adds that the current visit to the Zhejiang Provincial Party School follows talks in 2024 between UDA and CPC officials on party-to-party cooperation.  The article also notes that the UDA is seeking up to $7.75 million from the CPC to serve as its headquarters, which will incorporate the new party leadership school.  The UDA is banking on the solid relations Kenya has with China to secure the funding.  

Communist Party of China and Xinhua News Agency Host Forum in Kenya

 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.   

China's Foreign Police Training

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 13 November 2025 a detailed study titled "China's Foreign Police Training: A Global Footprint" by Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Isaac B. Kardon, and Cameron Waltz.  

This carefully researched study notes that China's police training is one of the Global Security Initiative's most concrete deliverables and most measurable commitments.  Countries in Africa and China's neighbors in Central and Southeast Asia have been the most frequent participants of its police training activities.  

Podcast on China's Relations with Africa

 New Books Network posted on 8 October 2025 a one hour and 43-minute podcast on "China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement."

Kanayo Anthony Nomeh, Florida International University, hosted the podcast with the authors of the book, Joshua Eisenman and me.  The podcast covers all aspects of the relationship between Africa and China, although the focus is on security and political issues.  

Will Tanzania's Investment Center in China Attract More from Africa?

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published in August 2025 a study titled "Tanzania and China: China-Africa Policy Signals, Substance and Suggestions" by Lauren Johnston.  

In December 2024, Tanzania established an Investment Centre in China's Hunan province.  Tanzania is the first African country to open such a center in Hunan.  This development may encourage other African countries to follow Tanzania's example.  

Ranking of China's Global Influence

 Uganda's The Independent published on 24 September 2025 an article titled "How China Controls the World" by Ronald Musoke.

The article draws on China's growing influence in Uganda and the results of the China Index 2024, published by China in the World network with the Taiwan-based non-profit Doublethink Lab.  The index measures China's influence in 101 countries.  

Comment:  It is difficult to determine if the title of the article is tongue in cheek or a misreading of the China Index 2024.  In any event, the index suggests that China is generally increasing its global influence.  

Kenya's The Star and China Daily Sign Content Sharing Agreement

 Kenya's The Star published on 17 July 2025 an article titled "The Star Signs Content Sharing Deal with China Daily Africa" by Eliud Kibii.

China Daily, which is controlled by the Communist Party of China, signed a deal with Kenya's The Star to share content.  Once a week, The Star with average daily circulation of 100,000 will include an insert prepared by China Daily.  The editorial director of The Star's parent company said, "China is a major geopolitical player, and we're glad to be part of telling its story in Africa."

China Won't Replace American Foreign Aid Program

 Foreign Policy published on 7 July 2025 a commentary titled "China Isn't Ready to Replace USAID" by Henry Tugendhat and James Palmer.

Now that the Trump administration has gutted the US foreign aid agency, some analysts have suggested China will fill the void.  This commentary correctly points out that China has little appetite to take on a foreign aid program as large as the one run by USAID.  In addition, China's domestic audience is probably even less supportive of foreign aid than the American public.

Comment:  China will, however, strategically replace American foreign aid programs where it can obtain maximum advantage and favorable publicity.  At relatively little cost to China, it will constantly remind developing countries that the United States is not a reliable partner.

Chinese Central Communist Party School Delegation Visits Nigeria

 The Nigerian Tribune posted on 26 June 2025 an article titled "Nigeria, China Partner to Advance Cooperation on Public Sector Reform."

A delegation from the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) visited Nigeria to facilitate an exchange of ideas and best practices in public sector reform.  The head of the Central Party School delegation described the structure and mandate of the school and its critical role in shaping governance and public administration in China.

Comment:  This is yet another example of the CPC reaching out to African countries to strengthen party-to-party ties.  

Discussion of China's Security Engagement with Africa

 H-Diplo posted on 30 June 2025 a roundtable review of the book by Josh Eisenman and me titled "China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement."

Comments are provided by Yanyin Zi, Rikkyo University, Elisa Gambino, University of Manchester, and Obert Hodzi, University of Liverpool.  We then respond to their comments.  

VOA Is Not "a Rotten Piece of Fish"

 The New York Times published on 25 June 2025 an article titled "Trump Urges Congress to 'Kill' Voice of America as Its Leader Defends Gutting" by Minho Kim and Megan Mineiro.

Kari Lake, who President Trump appointed to dismantle the Voice of America, met with the House Foreign Affairs Committee on 25 June.  She excoriated the VOA, calling it "a rotten piece of fish" and "a threat to American national security."

Comment:  I worked for 37 years in the U.S. Department of State where I often monitored VOA broadcasts and then spent 24 years in academia when I contributed without financial reimbursement my expertise on Africa to VOA programs,  

In the millions of VOA programs in more than 40 languages during those years, of course one can find a few where VOA got it wrong and a few that demonstrated an ideological bias.  But the overwhelming majority were honest programs that accurately told America's story to foreign audiences.  Many of them also countered misinformation and disinformation propagated by our adversaries.

The VOA is not and never was "a rotten piece of fish."  Moving its corpse to the State Department is not the answer.  The State Department does not have the staff, expertise, or resources, especially as it undergoes drastic personnel cuts of its own, to run the remains of the VOA.  More importantly, programing managed by the State Department will have little credibility and no independence.  Foreign audiences will perceive no difference between a State Department press release and whatever is produced by the remnant of the VOA.  

The only winners in the dismantling of VOA are countries like Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China that spread disinformation about the United States.  This will constitute a classic case of shooting ourselves in the foot, but with a Gatling gun.       

US, China, Africa, and Critical Minerals

 The Atlantic Council published on 6 June 2025 a study titled "Keeping China at Bay and Critical Minerals Stocked: The Case for US-Africa Defense Collaboration" by Alexsandra Gadzala Tirziu.  

Africa holds one-third of the world's known mineral resources, including 80 percent of platinum and chromium, 47 percent of cobalt, and 21 percent of graphite.  Of the 50 minerals designated as critical by the US Geological Service, 32 are found in Africa.  China accounts for 85 percent of global mineral processing capacity.

The US should help African nations develop their own domestic mineral processing capabilities to build their own self-sufficiency and to diminish China's lock on processing capacity.  This could contribute to a reliable supply source of critical minerals for the Unites States.  It could also strengthen US security alliances with African countries.  

China Expands Security Engagements in Africa

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 10 June 2025 an analysis titled "China Widening Its Influence in Africa through Expanded Security Engagements" by Paul Nantulya.

China is expanding across Africa its security relationships through training, military exercises, arms sales, party-to-party cooperation, and weapons production.  About 70 percent of African countries now operate Chinese armored vehicles.  Some 40 African countries have a relationship with Chinese public security agencies.  

African Students: China Wins and US Loses

 The New York Times published on 7 June 2025 an article titled "China's Quiet Win: Outmaneuvering U.S. for Africa's Future Leaders" by Abdi Latif Dahir.  

As the Trump administration tightens restrictions for international students to enter the United States, Africans increasingly are opting to study in China, attracted by government scholarships, affordable tuition, lower living costs, and easier entry requirements.