Relief from China's Debt after COVID-19

 The Rhodium Group published on 8 October 2020 an analysis titled "Seeking Relief: China's Overseas Debt after COVID-19."

While the analysis looks at global debt held by China, African countries loom large in the study.  At least 15 countries, including 6 in Africa, had ongoing or completed debt renegotiations with China in 2020.  

US Export Import Bank Finally Offering Competition to China in Africa

The South China Morning Post published on 2 August 2020 an article titled "US 'Follows China's Path' in Africa by Funding Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas Project" by Jevans Nyabiage.

The Export-Import Bank of the US has approved a $4.7 billion loan, the largest direct loan in the bank's history in Sub-Saharan Africa, to support exports of US goods and services to construct an LNG facility in Mozambique.  This is one of the first indications of meaningful competition with China in Africa by the US bank. 

How US Companies Can Compete with China in Africa

The Atlantic Council in Washington released on 7 September 2017 two issue briefs concerning possibilities for doing business in Africa, especially in light of significant Chinese competition. The first paper is titled "Escaping China's Shadow: Finding America's Competitive Edge in Africa" by Aubrey Hruby, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center. The paper identifies the following five sectors as good prospects for American business: professional and business services; financial services; media, entertainment and information; agribusiness; and renewable energy.

A companion paper, which focuses on the nature of African consumers, is titled "Capturing the African Consumer Market: Truths, Trends, and Strategies for the Road Ahead" by Aleksandra W. Gadzala, a geopolitical risk consultant.

Chinese Capital Drives Deforestation in Cameroon

The Standard Tribune in Cameroon published on 21 October 2015 a report titled "Chinese Capital Drives Deforestation in Cameroon" by Kingsley M. Nfor.

China has become the largest foreign investor in Cameroon.  Nfor reports that these investments are fuelling the illegal exploitation of forests in Cameroon to satisfy Asian demand. 

China's Aid to Africa: Monster or Messiah?

Brookings published in January 2014 an analysis titled "China's Aid to Africa: Monster or Messiah?" by Yun Sun, East Asia fellow at the Stimson Center.  She concludes that the intention of China's aid to Africa is benign but not altruistic.  China does not seek to use aid to influence the domestic politics of African countries or dictate policies.  But Chinese projects create access to Africa's natural resources and local markets, business opportunities for Chinese companies and employment for Chinese laborers.  China's comprehensive, multi-dimensional aid to Africa defies simplistic categorization. 

China's $1 Trillion for Africa

China-US Focus published on 26 November 2013 a piece titled "China's $1 Trillion for Africa" by Robert Rotberg, Fulbright research chair at the Balsillie School of International Affairs.  Rotberg concludes that China thinks it will be easy to finance $1 trillion for projects in Africa, but whether Africa can absorb that amount of money will depend on good governance and high-functioning leadership across Africa. 

New Initiatives During Obama Trip to Africa

During his trip to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania from 26 June 2013 until 3 July 2013, President Barack Obama announced three key initiatives.  While there was far too much focus in the press on issues such as the high cost of the trip (all presidential travel is expensive for security reasons), it will increasingly be associated with the three key initiatives: Power Africa, Trade Africa and the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

The White House released on 30 June 2013 "Fact Sheet: Power Africa," which explains that the initiative will double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa by adding more than 10,000 megawatts of efficient electricity generation capacity.  Initial partners include Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania.  Power Africa will also work with Uganda and Mozambique on responsible oil and gas management.  The U.S. will commit more than $7 billion to the effort over the next 5 years.  For example, USAID will provide $285 million in technical assistance; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation up to $1.5 billion in financing and insurance for energy projects; U.S. Export-Import Bank up to $5 billion in support of U.S. exports for the development of power projects; and the Millennium Challenge Corporation up to $1 billion in African power systems.  Power Africa will leverage private sector investment, beginning with more than $9 billion from companies such as General Electric, Heirs Holding and Symbion Power.

The White House released on 1 July 2013 "Fact Sheet: Trade Africa," which will focus initially on the members of the East African Community (EAC)--Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.  Trade Africa aims to double intra-regional trade in the EAC, increase EAC exports to the U.S. by 40 percent, reduce by 15 percent the average time needed to import or export a container from the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to land-locked Burundi and Rwanda, and decrease by 30 percent the average time a truck takes to transit selected borders.  Trade Africa may eventually expand to other African regions.

The President announced the third initiative concerning interaction with African youth in South Africa on 29 June 2013.  The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders beginning in 2014 will bring more than 500 young African leaders to the U.S. each year for leadership training and mentoring.  They will spend 6 weeks at top American universities in tailored training programs and have the opportunity to participate in internships in the private and public sectors.  Microsoft, for example, will connect Washington Fellows with internships at their offices across Africa.  Ethiopian Airlines will offer participants the opportunity to train at their business management and corporate governance platforms around the world.  The U.S. will award more than $5 million in small grants to Washington Fellows who seek to start their own businesses or social enterprises.  USAID will establish regional hubs and coordinators to connect Washington Fellows to these opportunities and leverage over $200 million in ongoing youth programs.

Everything considered, not a bad result for a visit that received surprisingly little press coverage--and much of that negative.