Foreign Policy published on 9 September 2025 an article titled "China's Appetite for Rosewood Is Causing Chaos in Africa" by Caroline Costello and Joshua Eisenman.
China imported an estimated $2 billion of rosewood from Africa between 2017 and 2022. Much of the logging for this rare timber is illegal. Extreme drought and flooding linked to the loss of rosewood trees have had devastating agricultural impacts.
Nigeria's The Telegraph published on 6 September 2025 an article titled "Gunmen Kill Eight NSCDC Officers, Abduct Chinese Expatriate in Edo" by Ngozika Onah.
Nigerian gunmen on September 5 attacked Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel escorting five Chinese nationals in Edo State who work at a cement factory. The gunmen killed eight NSCDC personnel and kidnapped one Chinese national. The other four Chinese nationals were rescued.
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.
Business Insider Africa published on 25 August 2025 an article titled "Police Confirm That a Violent Chinese Mob Boss Hiding in Nigeria Has Been Deported" by Chinedu Okafor.
Wanted in China for directing violent organized crimes, INTERPOL tracked down the Chinese national in Nigeria, which then repatriated him to China.
The LSE Blog posted on 6 August 2025 a commentary titled "China is Reshaping Global Power Dynamics through Diplomatic Ritual" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah, Lingnan University, and Christian Kaunert, Dublin City University.
In January 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made his first overseas trip of the year to Africa--Chad, Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Nigeria--a practice the Chinese foreign minister has done every year since 1991. The author argues that Wang Yi's trip represents a systematic erosion of Western influence in Africa.
Pressreader reprinted a South China Morning Post article dated 16 August 2025 titled "China Arms Burkina Faso in Sahel Drive" by Jevans Nyabiage.
Burkina Faso has received at least 4 major consignments of arms from China since early 2024. The latest delivery included VN22B fire support vehicles, PLL-05 120mm self-propelled gun mortar systems, and SR5 rocket launch systems.
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.
CNN posted on 5 August 2025 an article titled "Trump's Tariffs Are Sending African Countries into China's Hands" by Nimi Princewill.
As the United States imposes tariffs on African countries, representatives of Nigeria and South Africa, the two largest economies in Africa, say this will only push African countries closer to China.
The Diplomat published on 14 July 2025 an article titled "Africa and China: Turning FOCAC's Strategic Upgrades into Real Outcomes" by Huiyi Chen, Development Reimagined.
Every African country except Eswatini, which recognizes Taiwan, now has at least a "strategic partnership" with China and many have a more elevated status such as "comprehensive strategic partnership," "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," and a special status for Ethiopia and South Africa.
The author argues that African countries must now sharpen their strategies to maximize the new framework with China. The year 2025 will test whether these upgraded ties can deliver real outcomes.
The Wall Street Journal published on 13 July 2025 an article titled "China Gets More Airtime Around the World as Voice of America Signs Off" by Aruna Viswanatha, Alexandra Wexler, and Clarence Leong.
Media time slots in foreign countries once used by the Voice of America are, in some cases, now being allocated to official Chinese media outlets.
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.
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.
The South China Morning Post published on 7 June 2025 an article titled "China's Increased Training of African Military, Arms Sales and Aid 'Concerns' US" by Jevans Nyabiage.
The United States is becoming increasingly concerned at the increase in military training that China is offering to African military personnel. Coupled with growing Chinese arms sales and other military to military cooperation, it suggests Beijing has become more involved in African security issues.
The South China Morning Post published on 16 May 2025 an article titled "Chinese Defence Firm Strikes Arms Deal with Nigeria, Deepening Ties with West Africa" by Jevans Nyabiage.
A Chinese company, most likely Norinco, recently signed a deal with Nigeria for producing ammunition domestically. Norinco has been expanding its arms sales across Africa, taking advantage of Russia's preoccupation with Ukraine and a Western pull back from Africa.
The Associated Press published on 16 May 2025 an article titled "Children Die as USAID Cuts Snap a Lifeline for the World's Most Malnourished" by Taiwo Adebayo.
Drawing on a program implemented by Mercy Corps in Nigeria to feed malnourished children, the article documents the damage caused by dismantling USAID. It also looks at the closure of global programs administered by Helen Keller International.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy published in 2025 a study titled "Parliamentary Oversight and Chinese Loans in Africa: The Case of Ghana and Nigeria" by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University.
The study identifies party-centered responses in parliament, executive push, and dependence on Chinese development finance as the challenges of parliamentary oversight. It concludes that strengthening parliamentary oversight of Chinese loans will require the involvement of non-state actors.
Africa Equity Media published on 7 May 2025 an article titled "China Deepens Military Footprint in Africa with Landmark Nigeria Deal" by Faith Nyasuguta.
China's NORINCO signed a MOU with the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria to product military grade ammunition locally and service military equipment. The initiative underscores China's goal to become a key security partner with Nigeria and Africa generally.
Military Africa posted on 1 May 2025 an article titled "Nigeria Looks to China's Norinco to Bolster Fledging Air Defence Structure" by Ekene Lionel.
A high-level delegation from the Nigerian Air Force recently visited China to look at updating its radar coverage and air defense systems. Nigeria has an ongoing defense relationship with Norinco and has procured a wide variety of combat systems from China, which is looking to expand its military and economic influence in the country.
The Nation published on 21 April 2025 an article titled "Nigerian, Chinese Firms Seal $2.5b Steel Production Deal" by Chikodi Okereocha.
A Nigerian firm and China's Sinomach-HE have signed a financial and technical cooperation agreement for the development of a steel production plant in Nigeria valued at $2.5 billion. The project will process Nigerian iron ore into finished steel products for sale locally.
The South China Morning Post published on 19 April 2025 an article titled "How China Is Filling a Weapons Supply Gap in Africa's Sahel Left by France and Russia" by Jevans Nyabiage.
As France and Russia lose arms supply market share in the Sahel region of Africa, China is stepping in to fill the gap. China offers a large variety of weapons of reasonable quality, fast delivery, and low prices.
