Confucius Institutes and the Spread of Mandarin in Africa

 Global China Pulse published on 24 February 2025 an article titled "Confucius Institutes and the Spread of Mandarin Chinese in Africa" by Simbarashe Gukurume, Sol Plaatje University in South Africa. 

Some 16 African countries have incorporated Mandarin teaching in their national education systems and about 30 universities have established Chinese majors.  Confucius Institutes are important platforms for expanding not only Chinese language and culture, but also the world view, norms, values, and political philosophies of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China.

New Perspectives on China and Africa

 The East Asian Studies Center at Ohio State University in Columbus is hosting on 15 November 2024 a half day symposium titled "New Perspectives on China and Africa."  You can attend in person or join by Zoom.

Speakers will present on the following topics:

David Shinn - China-Africa Security Engagement Since COVID-19

Jyhong Hwang - Built Higher, Dug Deeper: The Effect of Chinese Debt Financing on African Infrastructure Coverage

Phiwokuhle Mnyandu - The Evolution of Chinese Soft Power in Africa: Implications for Technology, African Languages and Cultures in Africa and the Diaspora

Asma Amita Belem - China in Africa, Environmental Governance and Civil Society: The Case of the Kua Forest in Burkina Faso

Joshua Eisenman - China's Relational Power in Africa: Beijing's 'New Type of Party-to-Party Relations'

China-Africa: Higher Education and Soft Power

 Nature published on 6 June 2024 an article titled "The Road to Soft Power Starts on Campus" by Rachel Nuwer, a freelance writer based in New York City.

In 2006, just 2 percent of China's international students came from Africa; by 2018, that percentage had risen to nearly 17 percent.  In 2018, the last year statistics are available, more that 80,000 Africans were enrolled in higher education in China.  Only France attracted more African students that year.

COVID-19 resulted in a reduction of African students in China due to the country's strict lockdown policies.  China has recently revived the scholarship program for Africans.  The article suggests that African students have had mixed experiences during their time in China.   

Ethiopia: Threat to Harari Culture

 Ethiopia Insight published on 7 December 2023 a commentary titled "Hararis in Harar Are Being Erased and Dispossessed" by Abdullah Sherif, a leader of the Harari community in Toronto.  

The author argues that Oromo extremism poses an existential threat to Hararis in Harar.  Given their small numbers (well under one percent of Ethiopia's population), constant intimidation, and abandonment by the central government, Hararis in Harar are suffering in silence.  Harari culture is being appropriated, its land and property stolen, and politics undermined.  

South Africa Is a Cheap Date for China

 The Daily Maverick published on 27 August 2023 a commentary titled "South Africa's Strange Obsession with China Is Proof That It's a Cheap Date" by Greg Mills and Ray Hartley.

South Africa has more in common with India than China, but its African National Congress (ANC) government is tripping over itself to align with the latter.  The ANC appears hypnotized by China's ordered, state-led government, which controls civil society.  South Africa is demonstrating that it is a cheap date.  

Islamic State Branch in Somalia Goes Multilingual

 The April 2023 edition of the CTC Sentinel includes an article titled "The Islamic State Somalia Propaganda Coalition's Regional Language Push" by Lucas Webber and Daniele Garofalo.

The branch of the Islamic State in Somalia is trying to expand its reach by providing propaganda in Somali, Oromo, Amharic, and Swahili languages.

Protest Over Language Use in Ethiopian Orthodox Church Shuts Down Social Media

 The Associated Press published on 10 February 2023 an article titled "Ethiopia's Social Media Blocked Amid Church Split Tensions."

A dispute within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church over the use of local languages resulted in calls on social media for protest rallies in Oromia Region.  The government then suspended access to social media platforms.

Russia and China to Lead Multipolar World?

 Global Research published on 3 December 2022 a commentary titled "Russia, China and the 'Multipolar World.'  The Kremlin's Evolving Relations with Africa" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.  

The author suggests that Russia sees itself collaborating with China to lead a multipolar world.  Africa is an important part of that world.  But Russia has important gaps in its relations with African countries and does not approach the leverage that China has in Africa. The author provides some useful observations on the Russia-Africa relationship.  

What China Learns from African Managerial Practices

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published in October 2022 a study entitled "What China Is Learning from West African Managerial Practices" by Abdoulkadre Ado, University of Ottawa.

Investing in African joint ventures has enabled Chinese cultural adaptation by emphasizing training programs in languages commonly spoken in Africa, embracing local management styles, and assimilating some local practices.

African governments, businesses, and corporate managers should explore further ways to incentivize Chinese government decisionmakers and Chinese businesses to use joint ventures more often as the vehicle for their investments in Africa.  They should also encourage Chinese organizations to embrace the use of local languages, especially for conducting business, and to train more Chinese to use African managerial philosophies that have proven to respect local values while being effective in African markets. 

Ethiopia: Disinformation Campaigns Hinder Peace Process

 Ethiopia Insight published on 22 October 2022 a commentary titled "The Battle of Narratives Around the War in Tigray" by an anonymous author.

All sides to the conflict in Tigray Region are guilty of manipulating information to fit their preferred narrative.  The message has also varied depending if it is transmitted in English for the international audience or in a local language for Ethiopians.  Reconciliation can only begin once the disinformation campaigns come to an end.

New Afrobarometer Survey of Africans View of China

 Afrobarometer published on 15 November 2021 its latest survey titled "Africans Welcome China's Influence But Maintain Democratic Aspirations."

Afrobarometer's national surveys in 34 African countries in 2019/2021 show that Africans hold positive views of China's assistance and influence on the continent, though its perceived level of influence on African economies has waned over the past five years.  China remains second to the United States as the preferred development model for Africans.  In addition, majorities of those who are aware of Chinese loans and development assistance to their countries are concerned about being heavily indebted to China.

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.  

The Case Against Ethiopia's Ethnic Federalism

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 30 June 2021 a commentary titled "Ethnic Federalism: A Theory Threatening to Kill Ethiopia" by Kassahun Melesse, Oregon State University.  

The author argues that ethnic federalism has been a major barrier to national unity and common public institutions. Ethiopia must move away from its Soviet-inspired ethnic federalism to achieve peace, prosperity and democracy.  

Good News Story: Small Muslim Sudanese Town Welcomes Christian Ethiopian Refugees

 The New York Times published on 13 February 2021 an article titled "In Sudan Border Town, Desperate Ethiopians Find 'Second Mother Country'" by Abdi Latif Dahir.  

The remote town of Hamdayet in Sudan's eastern Kassala state initially received 43,000 refugees from the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray Region.  The Sudanese in the town are mostly Arabic-speaking traders and livestock herders while the Ethiopian refugees are mostly Amharic or Tigrinya-speaking Christians.  People in the Sudanese town warmly welcomed the Ethiopians, one of whom described the Sudanese "as the most generous people in the world."

Ethiopia: Demonization of Jawar Mohammed

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 4 January 2021 a commentary titled "The Counter-productive Demonization of Jawar Mohammed" by Hambisa Belina, an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States.  

Oromo activist, Jawar Mohammed, was arrested in July 2020 and remains in prison in Ethiopia.  The author argues that imprisonment, demonization, and assassination do not solve political problems. The solution is inclusive dialogue that includes Jawar Mohammed and all other prominent political prisoners.   

Who Wins US-China Competition for Influence in Africa?

 The Washington Post Monkey Cage posted on 20 November 2020 a commentary titled "U.S.-China Competition May Be a Win-win for Africa" by Naunihal Singh, Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, and E. Gyimah-Boadi.  

According to Afrobarometer, Africans generally have a positive view of both China and the United States and welcome the engagement of both countries.  The authors conclude the winner in the U.S.-China competition for influence in Africa could be all three.  

Ethiopia: Alienation of Somali Region

Ethiopia Insight posted on 17 June 2020 a commentary titled "Time for Reconciliation and Apologies to Ethiopian Somalis" by Sharezad Faisal Gas, women's rights activist in Jigjiga.

The author comments on the continuing alienation of Somali Region and urges a national reconciliation conference take place in Jigjiga. 

Impact of China's Confucius Institute in Mozambique

The Diplomat published on 28 February 2020 a report titled "Can Mozambique Learn to Love China?" by Ari Rickman, who studied in Mozambique.

Mozambique's premier university, Eduardo Mondlane, is the location for one of China's 61 Confucius Institutes in Africa. The author identified several challenges facing the Confucius Institute and concluded that belief in the growing power of China, rather than a deep-seated affinity for China, is the main soft power divided being reaped from the Institute.

The Genesis of the China-Africa Relationship

Panda Paw Dragon Claw posted on 2 May 2020 a thoughtful analysis titled "Bring Back the 'Bandung Spirit' in China-Africa Relationship" by Liu Haifang, Peking University.

The author concludes that the recent incident of racism in Guangzhou highlights the huge gap of language, culture and values between China and Africa, a reality that everyone needs to face in pursuing a sustainable cross-continental relationship. She urges that China's study of Africa must step outside the small echo chambers of think tanks and the restrictive focus on China-Africa economic collaboration.

Ethiopia and Malawi: Chinese Medical Teams and Knowledge Transfer

The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies China Africa Research Initiative published in March 2020 a study titled "Chinese Medical Teams: Knowledge Transfer in Ethiopia and Malawi" by Allison Grande, Sara Fischer, and James Sayre.

The study explores Chinese medical teams in Ethiopia and Malawi to analyze the scale and effectiveness of knowledge transfer between team members and host country medical personnel. It concludes that only limited knowledge transfer results from the program. Systemic constraints, including language barriers and underdeveloped program management practices, limit the teams'ability to operate at their full potential as trainers and practitioners.