Measuring China's Influence in Africa

 Doublethink Lab and the China in the World network have published a cross-regional ranking to measure China's overseas influence through comparable data titled "China Index 2022: Measuring PRC Influence Around the Globe."  It looks at 82 countries, including 11 in Africa, evaluating the following 9 domains: academia, domestic politics, economy, foreign policy, law enforcement, media, military, society, and technology.

The African country ranked as having the highest amount of Chinese influence was South Africa, tied with Peru for position number 5.  Other African countries had the following rankings: Nigeria (14), Egypt (17), Tanzania (18), Ghana (20), Kenya (22), Zambia (46), Sierra Leone (47), Gambia (50), Ethiopia (56), and Senegal (74).  By comparison, the United States ranked number 21.  

Both US and China Lose Influence in Africa

 Afrobarometer has just published changes in perceived influence of the United States and China in 27 African countries from 2019 until 2022.  

The US experienced an average decline of 11 percent in the 27 countries while China had an average decline of 10 percent.  (Click charts to enlarge.)

The US posted a positive influence percentage only in Sierra Leone and Mauritius while China had positive numbers in Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, and Namibia.  Both the United States and China experienced the sharpest drop in Morocco and Botswana.  

Malians Seem to Prefer China over US and France (in French)

 Afrobarometer published on 28 June 2021 an analysis titled "Les Maliens, favorable a l'integration regionale et aux investissements etrangers, soutiennent l'influence positive de la Chine."

An Afrobarometer survey of 1,200 adult Malians during March and April 2020 found that 80 percent had a positive response to China's economic and political influence in the country compared to 60 percent for the United States, 56 percent for Russia, and 34 percent for France.  In addition, 38 percent chose China as the best development model for Mali vs 16 percent for France and 15 percent for the United States.

On the other hand, 44 percent of the sample said Mali is too much in debt to China while only 30 percent said it is not too indebted and only 2 percent selected Chinese as the future international language vs 37 percent for French and 35 percent for English.  

African Perceptions of China and the US

 AFRO Barometer published on 3 September 2020 a study titled "Africans' Perception about China: A Sneak Peek from 18 Countries" by Edem Selormey.

Drawing on public opinion polling in 18 African countries in 2019/2020, AFRO Barometer compared reactions to China and the United States.  When asked whether China or the United States was the best model for the future development of each country, 32 percent replied the United States and 23 percent replied China.  Other countries accounted for the remainder.  China's average percentage improved slightly from 22 percent in 2014/2015.

When asked if the economic and political influence of the United States and China in each country is mostly positive or mostly negative, 59 percent had a mostly positive view of China and 15 percent a mostly negative view.  In the case of the United States, 58 percent had a mostly positive view and 13 percent a mostly negative view. The remaining respondents were not sure.  

China and Tanzania

Afro Barometer published on 25 February 2015 a brief news release titled "China Influence Seen as Strong, Positive in Tanzania."  Based on surveys, it concludes that Tanzanians see China's economic and political influence on Tanzania as mostly positive.