Business Insider Africa published on 24 September 2026 an article titled "Rwanda's Most Important Bank Joins China's Payment Network as Africa's De-dollarisation Push Grows" by Chinedu Okafor.
Rwanda's Bank of Kigali has joined China's cross border payment network known as CIPS. This is one more indication that African banks are seeking to de-dollarize.
The Diplomat published on 16 September 2026 an article titled "China's Free-Trade Offer to Africa Won't Solve the Trade Imbalance" by Matthew J. Rochat.
China's new zero tariff policy across 100 percent of tariff lines for 53 African countries will not resolve the large trade deficits that most African countries have with China. Extractive products, especially minerals and oil, account for 89 percent of African exports to China, while 94 percent of African imports from China are manufactured goods. Duty free tariffs have done little to alter this pattern.
Business Elites Africa published on 15 September 2026 an article titled "Rwanda Secures 25% Stake in Almonty Tungsten Venture Amid US Defense Shift" by Ikeh Ifeanyichukwu James.
China accounts for over 80 percent of world tungsten production. The United States is trying to diversify its tungsten supply chain by financing a deal with a Canadian tungsten company and a new mining venture in Rwanda, which will hold a 25 percent stake in the operation.
The Kenya Times published on 8 September 2026 an article titled "Businesses in Kenya Where Foreigners Dominate" by Morgan Wanyonyi.
Foreign nationals are engaged throughout Kenya as roadside vendors, owners of small and large retail shops, and in the import and construction business. Chinese nationals are prominent among them, especially regarding the sale of goods manufactured in China. These foreign entrepreneurs are experiencing growing criticism from Kenyan competitors.
The China Global South Project published on 31 July 2026 an analysis titled "Are Chinese and Turkish Drones Fueling Conflicts in Africa?" by Christian Geraud Neema Byamungu.
China and Türkiye are Africa's primary supplier of drones, which increasingly are used in conflict situations. Türkiye sells them directly to African militaries engaged in conflict, including in Libya, Sudan, DRC, and Rwanda. China sells them directly to both conflicting parties in the DRC and Rwanda but those used by Marshall Haftar's army in Libya and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan were transferred by the UAE.
The author concluded that while these drone sales do not start wars, both China and Türkiye insert themselves into pre-existing conflicts fueled by political rivalries, regional tensions, and economic interests.
Thierry Pairault posted on 11 July 2026 an analysis titled "The African Coffee Industry and the Chinese Tariff Exemption."
This working paper examines how China's coffee market has evolved and the role that Africa has played in it. Africa is a modest source (7.4 percent in 2024) for Chinese coffee imports. Five African countries export green coffee beans to China: Ethiopia (70 percent of the African total), Uganda (20 percent), Tanzania (5 percent), Kenya (3 percent), and Rwanda (2 percent).
China is a minor customer for African coffee and all five countries except Kenya paid no tariffs prior to China's recent Africa-wide zero tariff policy. The zero-tariff policy will benefit Kenya. In addition, African producers are confronted with importer-processors who set the conditions of the market. China's tariff exemption matters little in terms of shaping of their industrial and commercial strategies given that it affects only minimal quantities.
Fox News published on 23 June 2026 an article titled "Trump Gets Major Win against China in African Rare Earth Minerals Race" by Paul Tilsley.
The United States has supported an American company, Virtus Minerals, in developing two major mines producing cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the Trump administration's first critical minerals (not rare earths as the article asserts) win in the DRC.
The South China Morning Post published on 26 June 2026 an article titled "Can China's Strict Policing Model 'Silence the Guns' in Africa?" by Jevans Nyabiage.
China is training African trainees on ways to get better control of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The problem is that China's strict domestic policies do not transfer well to Africa where some African governments supply SALW to non-state actors in neighboring countries. Until this practice ends, China's training will accomplish little.
Launch Base Africa published on 22 June 2026 an article titled "NewTrails Capital, Backed by Africa's Leading Smartphone Manufacturer, Invests $55M in EV Startup Spiro."
China's Transsion Holdings, Africa's biggest smartphone seller, currently commands nearly half of the continent's market. Through its stake in a Chinese growth-stage fund called NewTrails Capital, Transsion is investing $55 million in Spiro, Africa's largest electric vehicle and battery-swapping company. For Spiro, the relationship opens doors to Chinese suppliers that could be decisive as it scales.
Global Witness published on 10 June 2026 a major report titled "Who Buys Rwanda's Smuggled Coltan? The Global Journey of Conflict Coltan from DRC to the World's Electronics."
Most of the conflict coltan mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo and smuggled through Rwanda is processed by companies in China. A few companies in Kazakhstan and Thailand are also involved. The refined tantalum often unwittingly ends up in the products of major Western companies.
Otto's Journal, a digital news publication based in New York, posted on 22 March 2026 an article titled "South Africa and China Strengthen Security Ties in 2026 Pretoria Summit" by Thabiso Mkhwanazi.
South Africa welcomed Chinese Vice President Han Zheng where discussions are expected to prioritize bilateral security cooperation, implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and South Africa's evolving role in a multipolar world as Pretoria navigates a complex relationship with the United States and deepens its ties with BRICS countries.
The Institute of Development Studies published in March 2026 a major study titled "Smart City Surveillance in Africa: Mapping Chinese AI Surveillance Across 11 Countries" edited by Wairagala Wakabi and Tony Roberts.
The report provides a comprehensive account of smart city surveillance in Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. China is by far the largest supplier of AI surveillance technologies to African governments, including to all 11 covered in this study.
The rapid expansion of smart city surveillance is having a chilling effect on ordinary citizens and journalists. The scale and invasive nature of mass surveillance is often not legal, necessary, or proportionate. There is little evidence that the expansion of digital surveillance reduces overall crime.
Ghana Web posted on 1 March 2026 an article titled "Two Ugandans Reported Killed in Ukraine-Russia War."
The article indicates that Russia has recruited Africans to fight in Ukraine from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa.
Comment: This is not a complete list of African countries where Russia has recruited mercenaries.
Modern Diplomacy published on 14 February 2026 a commentary titled "Egypt's Shadow War: Partnering with China to Curb Mossad's Influence Across Africa" by Nadia Helmy, Beni Suef University Egypt.
The author states that Egypt and China are working together to counter Israeli intelligence activities, specifically those of Mossad, in Africa. Egypt is particularly concerned with Mossad activities in Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Eritrea. China has reportedly provided Egypt with advanced radar and electronic warfare systems.
AllAfrica.com posted on 12 January 2026 an analysis titled "Africa: Former CIA Analyst Now Top U.S. Africa Official at State; Dealmaking Dominates as Conflicts Spread" by Reed Kramer.
The top official in the State Department Africa Bureau, Nick Checker, comes from the Central Intelligence Agency via the Trump administration's National Security Council. Massad Boulos, the U.S. Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, is the father of Tiffany Trump's husband and former truck and heavy machinery dealer in Nigeria.
The Trump administration recalled 15 career ambassadors from embassies in Africa in late December. Now only 17 of 52 embassies in Africa, which includes 4 in North Africa that are part of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, have ambassadors assigned to the country; 35 ambassadorial positions in Africa are vacant. The Trump administration has put forward only 4 nominations for ambassador to embassies in Africa--Morocco, Tunisia, Namibia, and South Africa. All 4 nominees are political appointees.
Foreign Policy published on 21 November 2025 an article titled "Documenting War Crimes in Sudan Begins Now" by Janine di Giovanni, Reckoning Project.
The evidence of war crimes in Darfur Region of Sudan is visible by satellite imagery from space. It is supported by witness accounts. The challenge now is to use the evidence in a court system and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The international press agency Pressenza published on 15 November 2025 my interview titled "Obama, Biden and Trump: Changing U.S. Policy towards Africa" moderated by Kester Kenn Klomegah.
The interview focused on the impact in Africa of a multipolar world and the approach towards Africa of President Obama, Biden, and Trump.
Modern Diplomacy posted the same interview on 16 November 2025.
China-Africa Security Radar published on 9 November 2025 a commentary titled "China-Africa Police Collaboration."
Between 2018 and 2021, more than 2,000 African police and law enforcement officials received training at Chinese police academies. The programs combined technical and operational training.
The Africa Policy Research Institute published on 29 September 2025 an analysis titled "From Minerals to Influence: Resource-for-Security Deals Reshaping Power Dynamics in Africa" by Amandine Gnanguenon and Marius Kretzschmar.
Critical raw materials, especially minerals, have become Africa's major attraction for Russia, China, and the United States. Each country has a different approach for linking critical minerals to its security interests.
The Telegraph published on 3 September 2025 an article titled "All Aboard 'The Debt Express': China's Pincer Movement on Africa" by Ben Marlow.
Kenya's largest ever infrastructure project is the Standard Gauge Railway financed by a loan from China and built by a Chinese company. It begins in the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa, passes through the capital of Nairobi, and ends in a corn field deep in Kenya's Rift Valley. The intention was to complete the line to Uganda's capital of Kampala. Excessive Kenyan debt has prevented extension of the project to the Kenya/Uganda border.
