China Expands Military Footprint in Africa

 The African Center for Strategic Studies published on 30 January 2026 a paper titled "China's Military Footprint in Africa Deepens with People's Liberation Army-led BRICS Naval Drills" by Paul Nantulya.  

The January 2026 BRICS Plus naval exercise in South African waters led by China's People's Liberation Army underscored Beijing's use of military power in Africa to advance Chinese geostrategic objectives.  China views BRICS Plus as part of an alternative global security and geopolitical architecture intended to counterbalance Western and US-led initiatives.  

Beijing has invested heavily in securing African participation in Chinese-led global initiatives to enhance its legitimacy, build regional voting blocs, and strengthen China's leverage amid global rivalries.  It accomplishes this through military exercises, naval port calls, creating security architecture, arms sales, and military training.

Reactions of Sudanese Involved in Civil War

 The PBS Newshour published on 3 September 2024 an article titled "Sudanese Teachers and Shopkeepers Join the Fight Against Rebels in Nation's Civil War" by Leila Molana-Allen and Jorgen Samso Nielsen.  

This is a summary of short conversations with persons involved in Sudan's civil war.  Most are on the side of the Sudan Armed Forces, which is opposing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  While it is not possible to verify their accounts, they do shed light on a horrible conflict that is destroying Sudan.

Comparing China's and EU's Trade with Africa (in French)

 Thierry Pairault posted on 1 September 2024 a study titled "L'Union europeenne face a la Chine en Afrique." 

The study provides an overview of China's and the EU's trade relations with Africa from 2000 until the end of 2023.  Since 2000, the EU collectively has been a far larger market for African exports than is the case for China.  While Africa's imports from China are growing more rapidly than those from the EU, the latter remains a larger source of African imports than China.  Distance has much to do with this trade relationship.  

New Weapons from What Countries Fuel Sudan Conflict?

 Amnesty International posted on 29 July 2024 a report titled "New Weapons Fuelling the Sudan Conflict."

The existing United Nations arms embargo on Darfur is completely ineffective.  Recently manufactured weapons and military equipment from Russia, China, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates are being imported in large quantities into Sudan and then diverted to Darfur.  Recently transferred small arms and ammunition from Serbia, Yemen, and China are being used on the battlefield by various parties to the conflict.  All states are prohibited from transferring or permitting private actors to transfer weapons to a party to an armed conflict where there is a clear risk it would contribute to the commission of international humanitarian law violations.

Russia Sends More Troops and Equipment to Eastern Libya

 Meduza, a news organization based in Riga, Latvia, published on 16 May 2024 an English-language summary of a joint investigation by the independent Verstka and the All Eyes on Wagner project titled "A Big Mess Is Brewing."

Russia has been supporting Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army in eastern Libya since about 2018.  In the past few months, Russia has been bolstering its military presence in Libya.  There has been a notable increase in shipments of Russian weapons and transport vehicles from Syria to Libya.  Russia reportedly is shipping a large amount of military equipment to Libya by sea.

The article speculates on the reasons for this military buildup.  

Russia's Future in Africa

 The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 15 August 2023 a study titled "Russis Is Still Progressing in Africa.  What's the Limit?" by Mathieu Droin and Tina Dolbaia.

The Kremlin's playbook in Africa will likely be recalibrated rather than overturned as a result of recent developments on the continent.  This paper examines Russia's creeping influence in Africa and assesses its diplomatic, economic, and security links.

Russia Writes Off $20 Billion in African Debt from Soviet Period--Again and Again and Again

Morning Star published on 27 July 2023 an article titled "Russia Agrees to Write Off $20bn of African Debt" by Roger McKenzie. 

Vladimir Putin told the first day of the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg that Moscow is writing off $20 billion of debt to African countries.  

Russia Business Today published on 23 October 2019 an article titled "Russia Writes Off Soviet-era African Debt Worth $20bn." 

President Putin announced on the eve of the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in October 2019 that Moscow has written off more than $20 billion in debt accumulated by African countries during the Soviet era.

APIE News, a Pan-Africanism news portal, published on 23 March 2023 an extensive article titled "Russia's Politics of Writing Off Africa's Debt."

It details several earlier announcements by President Putin that Russia has cancelled over $20 billion in African debt incurred during the Soviet period primarily because of weapon deliveries.  President Putin made such an announcement at a meeting of heads of state in South Africa on 27 March 2013, at a meeting of BRICS' leaders on 5 September 2017, and on the eve of the Russia-Africa Summit at Sochi in October 2019.  

Eurasia Review published on 21 March 2023 an OpEd titled "Russia's Politics of Writing Off African Debts" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.

The author made most of the same points.  The APIE News piece may have been based on Klomegah's OpEd.

Comment:  The recent announcement in St. Petersburg of the cancellation of over $20 billion of African debt was one of the leading press takeaways, just as it has been time after time.  I guess if you have good news, just keep repeating it year after year because most readers (and journalists) forget it is not new.

Competing Accounts of Downing Plane from Sudan Delivering Arms to Tigray

 The East African published on 24 August 2022 an article titled "Two Tales of a Weapons Plane in Tigray as Fighting Resumes in North Ethiopia" by Tesfa-Alem Tekle.  

The Ethiopian National Defense Force said it shot down a plane from Sudan carrying arms to Tigray Defense Forces.  The Tigray government said no such event occurred.  

China Sponsors Horn of Africa Peace Conference: Engineers Not Weapons?

 China is convening a Horn of Africa peace conference in Addis Ababa on June 20-21.  In an earlier article titled "Xue Bing: Beijing Will Send Engineers, Not Weapons, to Horn of Africa" by Aggrey Mutambo, The East African interviewed Xue Bing, China's special envoy for the Horn of Africa. 

In the interview, Xue Bing said in connection with Beijing's peace initiative "China will send out engineers and students.  We don't send out weapons."

Comment:  There seems to be a disconnect here.  According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Arms Transfers Database, China transferred from 2010 through 2021 the following dollar amounts of conventional weapons to countries in the Horn of Africa:  Sudan $254 million, Ethiopia $81 million, Kenya $40 million, Djibouti $37 million, South Sudan $12 million, and Somalia $2 million.  These figures do not include transfers of small arms and light weapons.  

Impact of Russia and China on African Democracy

 Democracy in Africa published on 23 September 2021 an analysis titled "Authoritarian Regimes and Democratisation in Africa: China and Russia Compared" by Onyalo Paul Otieno, Pan African University.

The article discusses the state of democracy in Africa and compares how China and Russia have contributed to democratic reversals.  

China Invites African Military Leaders to Beijing

Deutsche Welle posted on 29 June 2018 a report titled "Why Has China Invited African Army Chiefs to Beijing?"

China's Ministry of National Defense invited high-ranking military representatives from 50 African countries to the first China-Africa Defense and Security Forum in Beijing in early July. The article speculates on the reasons for this event.

China's Exports of Small Arms and Light Weapons

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released in October 2013 its China's Exports of Small Arms and Light Weapons by Mark Bromley, Mathieu Duchatel and Paul Holtom.  China is one of the world's most significant exporters of small arms and light weapons (SALW).  It is also among the least transparent.  At least 46 states imported military SALW from China during 2006-2010.  African states account for the largest share of reported imports of military SALW.  A number of exports of Chinese SALW to Africa that have involved European arms brokers have caused concern with regard to their potential impacts on peace, stability and security in the importing state.

Ian Taylor on China-Africa Relations

Ian Taylor/IDSA

China-Africa expert Ian Taylor, St. Andrews University, spoke on 8 January 2013 at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi.  Click here for a summary of his remarks, which touched on a wide range of China-Africa issues.