The South African Government News Agency posted on 20 July 2026 a press release titled "South Africa, China Deepen AI and Science Partnership at Global Summit."
South Africa and China recently agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, joint research centers and laboratories, space science and astronomy, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and the Young Scientists Exchange Program.
The Zambian Observer published on 30 April 2026 an article titled "President Hichilema Cancels World's Largest Digital Rights Conference."
Zambia cancelled at the last minute the world's largest conference (2,000 delegates) on human rights in the digital age organized by Access Now, RightsCon scheduled for May 5-8 in Lusaka. A Zambian official said the "postponement" of the conference was "essential to ensure full alignment with Zambia's national values, policy priorities, and broader public interest considerations."
News Diggers published on 30 April 2026 an article titled "Govt Cancels RightsCon Summit Citing Security Concerns on Some Delegates" by Mwenya Mofya.
In 2025, the conference took place in Taiwan. The News Diggers account reported that the conference was cancelled because the program included Taiwanese delegates who could potentially speak ill of China at a venue donated by the Chinese government.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published in February 2026 a major study titled "Artificial Intelligence for Africa's Defense Forces: A Toolkit for Defense Sector AI Strategy and Adoption."
This toolkit is a resource for African defense professionals to develop and adopt artificial intelligence policies, strategies, guidance, systems, and tools. It defines and illustrates some of the most relevant use cases, discusses how to guide the development of AI systems, processes, and personnel, suggests how to adapt AI to Africa's security environment, and outlines good practices that can be used to inform the development of defense sector AI strategy.
AI is no longer a futuristic prospect for Africa's defense forces, but an increasingly embedded tactical reality shaping military operations from the Sahel to the Cape. Like past inventions such as steam power, electricity, and the internet, AI is fast becoming an essential technology that will underpin the future of warfare.
Foreign Policy Watchdog posted on 20 February 2026 an article titled "The Shifting Sands of Influence: China's Strategic Investment in Africa's Digital Infrastructure."
Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE currently control about 40 percent of Africa's internet bandwidth and hold over 65 percent of smartphone market share in key African countries. It is questionable if the West can respond effectively. China may shape the continent's digital destiny.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 16 January 2026 an analysis titled "What to Expect from Africa-China Relations in 2026."
The focus of the analysis is what Africa hopes to get from China in 2026. In summary, Africa seeks to rebalance its ties with China concerning debt sustainability, value addition, and industrialization and to move toward a more equal and transparent partnership that prioritizes long-term African development. Africa wants a strategic partnership aligned with Agenda 2063.
South Africa's The Star published on 21 December 2025 an article titled "Empowering Africa: How China's Tech Cooperation Fuels Progress" by Gideon Chitanga.
The article argues that Chinese government and companies have become critical partners in the development of Africa's digital systems and information and communications technology. For example, Huawei has constructed an estimated 70 percent of Africa's 4-G networks.
BABL AI posted on 2 October 2025 an article titled "China, Africa Outline Joint AI Governance and Innovation Plan" by Jeremy Werner.
China and African nations announced last month a plan that outlines initiatives to expand artificial intelligence (AI) research, governance, and capacity-building across the continent. China will host annual China-Africa Digital Economy and Cybersecurity Seminars, offering training in AI data security and new technology applications.
The East Asia Forum published on 30 May 2025 an article titled "Africanising Chinese Surveillance Technology" by Bulelani Jili, Georgetown University.
African states accepting Chinese loans and subsidies for surveillance technology often fail to implement regulatory frameworks that adequately safeguard privacy and data protection. Authoritarian African governments use this technology for intrusive and unjustified monitoring.
The New York Times published on 22 March 2025 an article titled "How Elon Musk's DOGE Cuts Leave a Vacuum That China Can Fill" by David E. Sanger.
The Trump administration is moving to shut down a number of government agencies including Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America, which has the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrating. The mouthpiece of the CPC crowed that the Voice of America "has now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag."
The Cyberspace Administration of China published on 3 April 2024 an announcement titled "2024 China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum: Chair's Statement on China-Africa Cooperation on AI."
The China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum was held online in Xiamen, China on 2-3 April 2024. The participants held in depth exchanges on China-Africa cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI).
In 2023, China launched the Global AI Governance Initiative, which is designed to implement its concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and to realize the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.
The Conversation published on 27 February 2024 a commentary titled "Africa Needs China for Its Digital Development--But at What Cost?" by Stephanie Arnold, University of Bologna.
China's involvement by companies such as Huawei and ZTE has been critical in African digital development. While it is often argued that China has been successful because it offers the cheapest technology, the author suggests it is due more to the fact that Chinese contractors are attractive partners because they offer full package solutions that include financing.
The downside is that China seeks to promote Chinese digital standards and norms, including its technological and ideological principles. That includes China's interpretation of human rights, data privacy, and freedom of speech. China's Digital Silk Road seeks to establish a Sino-centric global digital order. Over-reliance on a single infrastructure supplier makes the client more vulnerable and can result in digital authoritarianism. The remedy is to diversify infrastructure supply.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation published in October 2023 a study titled "Navigating Africa's Digital Partnerships in a Context of Global Rivalry" by Folashade Soule.
The study highlights how African governments are choosing their digital partners. Africa's choice of China as its preferred partner for digital infrastructure has more to do with China offering a suitable mix of financial and technological value and the lack of viable Western alternatives, than geopolitics.
Reuters published on 24 May 2023 an article titled "Exclusive: Chinese Hackers Attacked Kenyan Government as Debt Strains Grew" by Aaron Ross, James Parson, and Christopher Bing.
Drawing on three sources, Reuters reported that Chinese hackers targeted Kenya's government in a widespread, years-long series of digital intrusions against key ministries and state institutions. Chinese government officials called the accusations "baseless."
Kenya's Ministry of Interior and National Administration issued a statement on 25 May that said the report should be "viewed as sponsored propaganda."
Foreign Policy published on 10 March 2023 an article titled "The Next Superpower Battlefield Could Be Under the Sea in Africa" by Joseph B. Keller, Brookings Institution.
The accelerated construction of submarine cables in African waters gives significant leverage to China while creating a security vulnerability due to the risk of Russian espionage. Chinese construction has become an important pillar of Beijing's foreign policy agenda. Russia's military and naval capabilities have the capacity to tap into the cables for espionage purposes. Western countries need to be alert to the implications of African submarine cable proliferation going forward.
The Voice of America published on 11 March 2023 an article titled "China's 'Digital Silk Road' in Africa Raises Questions" by Kate Bartlett.
The article discusses US concerns with China's Digital Silk Road in Africa, suggesting that some of the technology may be abused and used for illicit surveillance purposes.
The Diplomat published on 3 December 2022 a paper titled "China's Emerging Subsurface Presence in the Indian Ocean" by Prakash Panneerselvam, India's National Institute of Advanced Studies.
The author notes that the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean has been growing steadily since 2009. China's naval base in Djibouti, which opened in 2017, and the increasing presence of PLAN ships, submarines, and research vessels in the Indian Ocean is a call for greater concern in New Delhi. It not only challenges India's sphere of influence in the region but also raises the risk of security threats when Chinese vessels operate close to India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
The East African published on 3 December 2022 an in-depth article titled "Across East Africa, Big Brother Is Watching Your Every Move."
China's Huawei and Israel's Pegasus supply surveillance equipment that now covers much of Africa. There are growing concerns, however, that these projects, which combine video-surveillance, internet monitoring, and mobile phone meta-data collection, are giving the government the ability, not just to go after criminals, but to illegally spy on and monitor political opponents, activists, and journalists.
Access Partnership posted on 23 June 2022 a commentary titled "The State of Cybersecurity in Africa: The Chinese Effect" by Ethan Mudavanhu and Daniel Batty.
Sino-Africa cybersecurity cooperation has emerged as a key component of China's new strategic alliance with Africa. Chinese companies, especially Huawei, have been investing heavily in Africa.
Rest of the World published on 1 December 2021 a commentary titled "The Real Reason China Is Pushing 'Digital Sovereignty' in Africa" by Yinka Adegoke.
This commentary looks at the deepening tech-telecoms relationship between China and nearly every African country and what it portends for the future of the continent. It concludes that China wants to use IT expansion in Africa as part of its effort to establish next generation technology standards.
The Daily Maverick published on 22 August 2021 a commentary titled "Russia's Efforts to Promote Cyber Norms that Serve Its Interests Gain Traction in Africa" by Cayley Clifford.
Moscow's preference for state cyber sovereignty that gives countries regulatory freedom to stifle political opposition or citizen dissent is gaining support among African countries.
