Challenges Faced by American Researching Chinese Projects in Uganda

 Global China Pulse posted on 22 May 2025 a commentary titled "After Access: The Complexities of Reflexivity in Global China Fieldwork" by Robert Wyrod, University of Colorado Boulder. 

This is a fascinating account of interviewing Chinese managers of Chinese-funded projects in Uganda by a privileged, white American, male academic during a period of deteriorating US-China relations.  It underscores the challenges of doing academic research in difficult circumstances.  

China-Democratic Republic of Congo Dispute over Cobalt/Copper Deal

 Reuters published on 17 February 2023 an article titled "Congo Demands $17 Bln More in Infrastructure Investment from China Deal."

The DRC's state auditor is demanding an additional $17 billion in investment from a 2008 infrastructure deal with Chinese investors in exchange for Congolese cobalt and copper.  China's embassy in Kinshasa said it was shocked by the request, adding it does not correspond to reality.  

Congo, Corruption, and China

 The Sentry published in November 2021 a study titled "The Backchannel: State Capture and Bribery in Congo's Deal of the Century."

DRC state enterprises used a middleman with accounts at the bank run by former President Kabila's brother to pump tens of millions of dollars into the pockets of the Kabila family, their associates, and businesses at crucial junctures in what are known as the Sicomines agreements.  Chinese corporations colluded with power plays in the DRC to secure access to billions of dollars' worth of natural resources.  

Ghana: Chinese-bauxite Mine and Environmental Damage

The South China Morning Post published an article on 13 October 2019 titled "Activists in Ghana Lead Fight against China-backed Bauxite Mine in Pristine Rainforest" by Nosmot Gbadamosi.

The article describes the conflict between those who support the development in a Ghanaian rainforest of a Chinese bauxite mine and environmental activists and local residents who oppose the project because of the environmental damage it causes.

China-DRC Sicomines Deal: New Formula Needed

The Conversation posted on 3 April 2019 an analysis titled "The DRC and China's Sicomines: Why Future Deals Should Be Different" by Andoni Maiza Larrarte, Universidad del Pais Vasco in Madrid, and Gloria Claudio-Quiroga, Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid.

More than a decade on, the Sicomines minerals for infrastructure deal has not lived up to expectations. There have been infrastructure project delays as well as unexpected costs. The DRC will not receive any substantial income from the agreement in the foreseeable future. The Sicomines agreement never included any guarantee of the actual value that the Congolese population would get in exchange for the country's main source of wealth. The authors argue that future deals in Africa need to follow a new model.

Chinese Companies Challenge French Companies in Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal

Bloomberg published on 17 July 2018 an article titled "China Battles France for Business in Former African Colonies" by Pauline Bax and Olivier Monnier.

As Chinese companies win a higher percentage of infrastructure contracts throughout Africa, they are also competing more aggressively in former French colonies where French companies once had a decided advantage.

Chinese Dam Construction in Africa

Xiao Han's 329 page PhD thesis at the University of Melbourne dated March 2018 and titled "Money, Markets and Hydropower: Chinese Dam Construction in Africa" is available on-line.

The thesis aims to clarify the formation of goals, practices and consequences of Chinese outward investment through the lens of the Chinese government's and corporations' engagement in African dam construction. The thesis applies a technopolitical approach to disentangling the historical, technical, political, social and environmental complexity associated with dams and proceeds with a life cycle analysis of a specific project in Africa: the Bui Dam in Ghana.

Terrorist Attack on Chinese Personnel in Northern Cameroon

Terrorism Monitor published on 30 May 2014 a brief article on the terrorist attack against Chinese personnel working with a Sinohydro subsidiary in northern Cameroon.  The author, Andrew McGregor, reported that one Chinese national was injured and ten were abducted.  The terrorist organization based in neighboring Nigeria, Boko Haram, is believed to be behind the attack. 

China and South Sudan

Thomas Wheeler, an adviser at Saferworld, wrote a brief piece on 25 April 2013 titled "China's Economic Cooperation with South Sudan Needs To Be Conflict-Sensitive."  He argued that Chinese companies in South Sudan need to be more sensitive to conflict in the way they manage risks, protect workers, safeguard investments and protect their reputations.