The Associated Press published on 4 September 2025 an article titled "South Africa Asks China to Postpone Naval Exercises that Coincide with Possible Trump Trip for G20" by Gerald Imray.
South Africa, China, and Russia had planned to hold their biennial joint naval exercise in late November. South Africa asked China to postpone the exercise because it coincides with the 22-23 November meeting in South Africa of the G-20, which President Trump may attend.
The South China Morning Post published on 10 June 2025 an article titled "China's Defence Chief Dong Jun Backs South Africa against 'Bullying' amid US Tensions" by Enoch Wong.
South Africa's head of the National Defense Force met in Beijing with the Chinese Defense Minister, Dong Jun, who promised to work with South Africa to oppose bullying, a veiled reference to the United States.
The South China Morning Post published on 19 November 2024 an article titled "Do the Communist Party's Ties in Africa Pay Economic Dividends for China?" by Jevans Nyabiage.
The Communist Party of China has interacted for decades with political parties in Africa. It is not clear, however, whether closer party-to-party relations are the primary driver for more Chinese investment and funding in an African country.
The Daily Maverick published on 6 October 2024 a commentary titled "Ramaphosa's Russia Flirtation Imperils More than South Africa's Image" by Ray Hartley and Greg Mills, both with the Brenthurst Foundation.
The authors argue that an increasingly cozy relationship between President Cyril Ramaphosa, the African National Congress, and Russia risks South Africa's trade and investment with the West and may even open Pretoria to international legal action.
Reuters published on 5 September 2024 an article titled "China Is Not Pushing Africa into Debt Trap, South African President Says" by Joe Cash.
Speaking in Beijing, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he does not believe that Chinese loans to African countries, including those for large infrastructure projects, end up in a debt trap or a debt crisis
The Daily Maverick published on 4 August 2024 an article titled "Chinese Communist Party Claims Ramaphosa 'Assured that GNU's China Policy Will Not Change'" by Peter Fabricius.
Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, visited South Africa last week and was assured by President Cyril Ramaphosa that Pretoria would continue to support China's claim to Taiwan. South Africa's new coalition government now has partners, the Democratic Alliance and Inkatha Freedom Party, with less clear positions on Beijing's claim to Taiwan.
The South China Morning Post published on 20 June 2024 an article titled "Caliber of China Envoy Wu Peng 'Highlights South Africa's Importance to Beijing'" by Jevans Nyabiage.
Beijing has appointed its former head of African affairs in the Foreign Ministry, Wu Peng, as its new ambassador to South Africa, underscoring the importance it attaches to its relations with Pretoria.
Aljazeera published on 11 January 2024 a commentary titled "Sudan Should Avoid the Mistakes that Kept Angola in Conflict for 27 Years" by Tafi Mhaka, Aljazeera columnist.
Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo recently toured East Africa and met with President Cyril Ramphosa in South Africa in an effort to portray himself as a reasonable statesman. The author argues that, at best, Dagalo is a political reincarnation of his former boss, ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, or, at worst, a rebel without a cause, palpable ideology, or moral compass.
The author compares Dagalo to Jonas Savimbi, leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, who was killed in battle. He concludes that a democratic Sudan will have no place for people like Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo or Sudan Armed Forces leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
University World News - Africa Edition published on 5 October 2023 an article titled "Beyond BRICS: The Shaping of New Development Narratives" by Kudzai Mashininga.
At the BRICS summit in South Africa last August, China, India, and Russia demonstrated different narratives for engaging with Africa. China and India offered a competing model for development while Russia is trying to fill power vacuums.
In the case of higher education. Xi Jinping announced a Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development to complement its other higher education programs. Narendra Modi said Indian universities are establishing campuses in Africa, increasing scholarships, and deploying training teams to the continent.
The Diplomat published on 6 September 2023 a commentary titled "The Latest China-Africa Leaders Dialogue: What has Changed?" by Ovigwe Eguegu and Hannah Ryder.
On the sidelines of the recent BRICS summit in South Africa, the focus on China-Africa dialogue was modernization underpinned by 3 new Chinese initiatives: (1) supporting Africa's industrialization, (2) supporting Africa's agricultural modernization, and (3) developing skills by increasing vocational schools.
The Daily Maverick published on 27 August 2023 a commentary titled "South Africa's Strange Obsession with China Is Proof That It's a Cheap Date" by Greg Mills and Ray Hartley.
South Africa has more in common with India than China, but its African National Congress (ANC) government is tripping over itself to align with the latter. The ANC appears hypnotized by China's ordered, state-led government, which controls civil society. South Africa is demonstrating that it is a cheap date.
The New York Times published on 23 August 2023 an article titled "China Tries to Increase Its Clout in Africa Amid Rivalry With the U.S." by David Pierson and Lynsey Chutel.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sees himself as the leader of the developing world in China's effort to offer an alternative to the US-led global order. Africa is an emerging battleground for global influence.
The Eurasia Daily Monitor published on 31 July 2023 a commentary titled "Hollow Words and Apparent Setbacks at the Russia-Africa Summit" by Pavel K. Baer.
The author concluded that Russia offered "many pompous pronouncements" at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg but Moscow can no longer bankroll friendly African regimes nor compete with China's investment in resource extraction.
The Associated Press published on 30 July 2023 an article titled "African Leaders Leave Russia Summit without Grain Deal or a Path to End the War in Ukraine" by Cara Anna.
After two days at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, African leaders departed with little to show for their requests to resume a deal that kept grain flowing from Ukraine and to find a path to end the war there. Putin's promise of 25,000 to 50,000 tons of free grain to six African countries is a surprisingly small amount compared to that provided by other donors.
Aljazeera published on 27 July 2023 an article titled "Can Africa and China Help End the Russia-Ukraine War?" by Nils Adler.
There will likely be no peace negotiations soon as neither Ukraine nor Russia is prepared to cede territory. Eventually, China's influence over Russia and Africa's relative neutrality could make them well-placed to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.
The New York Times published on 19 July 2023 an article titled "South Africa Skirts Dilemma After Putin Cancels Visit" by John Eligon.
The decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to cancel his visit to the BRICS Summit in South Africa and attend by videoconference has removed a potentially damaging issue between Pretoria and Washington following an already strained relationship.
Comment: The decision by President Putin also demonstrates that charges leveled by the International Criminal Court can have real world consequences.
Reuters published on 19 July 2023 an article titled "South Africa Says Putin to Stay Away from BRICS Summit" by Nellie Peyton and Anait Miridzhanian.
South Africa announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 22-24, ending a dilemma that Pretoria as a member of the International Criminal Court would be obliged to arrest him for crimes during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent Russia at the summit. Putin will call in by video link.
APN News published on 18 July 2023 a corporate news story titled "South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa Officially Opens Huawei Innovation Centre, Describing It as a Boost for Local Innovation."
Underscoring South Africa's close relations with China, President Cyril Ramaphosa opened Huawei's Innovation Center in Johannesburg. It showcases Huawei's latest and most innovative digital technologies, including 5G, Cloud, and artificial intelligence.
The Associated Press published on 14 July 2023 an article titled "South Africa Urges Putin to Not Attend August Summit Due to International Arrest Warrant" by Gerald Imray.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes involving the abduction of children from Ukraine. South Africa is hosting in August the BRICS summit, which Putin was planning to attend. South Africa is signatory to the convention creating the ICC and technically is responsible for arresting him if he visits South Africa.
In an effort to avoid this dilemma, South Africa suggested that the BRICS summit move to China, be held virtually, or that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attend in lieu of Vladimir Putin. Russia rejected all three suggestions. South Africa has postponed a final decision until the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg on 27-28 July.
Opinion Nigeria posted on 17 July 2023 a commentary titled "Russia Shaping Its Future Partnership with Africa" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.
The author reviews Russia-Africa relations in the runup to the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg later this month. He concludes that "Russia's influence in Africa, despite efforts towards resuscitation remains marginal."
