The Respondents posted on 20 May 2026 an article titled "CCM, China's CPC Deepen Ties with Southern African Liberation Parties."
Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi hosted a meeting with the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China and senior leaders from the ruling political parties in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The parties launched the Research Centre for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Ethiopia Insight published on 27 April 2026 a commentary titled "Abiy Is Quietly Dismantling Tigray" by Asmelash Yohannes Teklu, former senior advisor at the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front bears responsibility for its internal fractures, which the federal government is using to its advantage. As a result, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has secured outcomes through quiet, calculated maneuvering that advance his strategic interests while avoiding the scrutiny that a return to war would incite. Tigray remains deeply divided.
Kenyans.co.ke posted on 31 January 2026 an article titled "Ruto to Launch Political School for UDA Using Communist Party of China Framework" by Maxwell Amunga.
A senior delegation from Kenya's ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is in China studying the Communist Party of China's (CPC) organization, cadre training, and grassroots mobilization. The delegation aims to incorporate best practices in political discipline, governance structures, and leadership development.
The Star published on 31 January 2026 an article titled "Top UDA Officials in China Ahead of Launch of UDA Party School" by Felix Kipkemoi.
This article adds that the current visit to the Zhejiang Provincial Party School follows talks in 2024 between UDA and CPC officials on party-to-party cooperation. The article also notes that the UDA is seeking up to $7.75 million from the CPC to serve as its headquarters, which will incorporate the new party leadership school. The UDA is banking on the solid relations Kenya has with China to secure the funding.
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.
Ethiopia Insight published on 3 December 2025 a commentary titled "When Liberty Is Misused: Rethinking Tigray's Democratic Path" by Gidey Amare, a public servant in the healthcare sector.
Infighting and factional battles are monopolizing political energy in Tigray Region. Those advocating democratic renewal are preparing for it by dismantling rather than cultivating the political culture required to maintain it.
The author argues that the current trend in Tigray requires a political shift. Political parties must end all forms of character assassination. The political debate should pivot to structured policy discussions. Civil society and the media must take responsibility for shaping political discourse. Political leaders must be willing to engage with their ideological opponents. Political parties must build grassroots support and demonstrate a competence to govern.
The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in November 2025 a policy brief titled "Somalia's 2026 Mandate Test: Navigating Elections and Federal Tensions."
This policy brief examines the federal government's evolving role in Federal Member States' elections, the competing interpretations of constitutional authority, and the political and logistical obstacles to direct voting.
New Books Network posted on 8 October 2025 a one hour and 43-minute podcast on "China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement."
Kanayo Anthony Nomeh, Florida International University, hosted the podcast with the authors of the book, Joshua Eisenman and me. The podcast covers all aspects of the relationship between Africa and China, although the focus is on security and political issues.
H-Diplo posted on 30 June 2025 a roundtable review of the book by Josh Eisenman and me titled "China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement."
Comments are provided by Yanyin Zi, Rikkyo University, Elisa Gambino, University of Manchester, and Obert Hodzi, University of Liverpool. We then respond to their comments.
The Pulitzer Center published on 30 April 2025 a commentary titled "Six Decades Later, Zambians Ask, 'Were Chinese Mining Infrastructure Investments Worth It?'" by Kang-Chun Cheng.
Mining, especially copper, accounts for almost three-quarters of Zambia's foreign exchange earnings and total exports. In the 1970s, China financed and built the railway for transporting minerals from Zambia to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Chinese companies invested heavily in Zambian mines. But human rights abuses, labor law infractions, and environmental practices have soured many Zambians on China's engagement in the country.
The Economist Intelligence Unit has just released its "Democracy Index 2024." The index provides a snapshot of the state of democracy in 165 independent states and two territories. The index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties. Each country is classified as one of four types of regime: full democracy (25 countries), flawed democracy (46), hybrid regime (36), or authoritarian regime (60).
The index ranks 50 African countries. The only one in the full democracy category is Mauritius (#20). Six are flawed democracies: Botswana (#35), Cabo Verde (#37), South Africa (#43), Namibia (#58), Ghana (#65), and Lesotho (#70). Sixteen are hybrid regimes and 27 are authoritarian regimes. In Africa, the Central African Republic (#164) is at the bottom and Sudan is not much better (#162).
By comparison, the United States is a flawed democracy at number 28 and China is an authoritarian regime at number 145.
The South China Morning Post published on 19 November 2024 an article titled "Do the Communist Party's Ties in Africa Pay Economic Dividends for China?" by Jevans Nyabiage.
The Communist Party of China has interacted for decades with political parties in Africa. It is not clear, however, whether closer party-to-party relations are the primary driver for more Chinese investment and funding in an African country.
Megatrends Afrika published in October 2024 a policy brief titled "Pragmatic, Strategic and Wide-Reaching: The CCP's Party Diplomacy in Africa" by Christine Hackenesch and Julia Bader.
The policy brief analyses recent patterns and motives of China's party diplomacy in Africa. It finds that the CCP maintains close ties with the main ruling parties in southern Africa and in some countries in East Africa, while engaging with a broad range of parties in countries in North Africa. Beijing's party diplomacy in Africa seeks to promote China's core foreign policy interests, advance an alternative narrative on global China, and normalize China's authoritarian system.
Ohio State's East Asian Studies Center and Center for African Studies, in conjunction with Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service Africa-China Initiative and George Washington University's East Asia National Resource Center are hosting on 15 November 2024 an event titled "New Perspectives on China and Africa" from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM Eastern Standard Time. Participants may attend in person or via Zoom.
Speakers are:
--China-Africa Security Engagement Since COVID-19 by David Shinn
--Built Higher, Dug Deeper: The Effect on Chinese Debt Financing on African Infrastructure Coverage by Jyhong Hwang
--The Evolution of Chinese Soft Power in Africa: Implications for Technology, African Languages and Cultures in Africa and the Diaspora by Phiwokuhle Mnyandu
--China in Africa, Environmental Governance and Civil Society: The Case of the Kua Forest in Burkina Faso by Asma Amina Belem
--China's Relational Power in Africa: Beijing's "New Type of Party-to-Party Relations" by Joshua Eisenman
The South China Morning Post published on 5 November 2024 an article titled "With Chinese Official's Visit, Kenyan President Says Deal to Fund and Build Highway Is Close" by Jevans Nyabiage.
Kenya's ruling United Democratic Alliance party held talks with a visiting senior Chinese Communist Party official to learn from Communist Party successes in political party building and to seek support for party training facilities.
Mwakashili.com posted on 3 November 2024 an article titled "Chinese Communist Party Delegation Begins Three-Day Visit" by Martin Olage.
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is on a three-day visit to Kenya arranged by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The visit builds on growing ties between the CPC and UDA, which reportedly is seeking insights from the CPC's governance model. The UDA is also pursuing funding from the CPC for construction of a new party headquarters.
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'
The South China Morning Post published on 18 September 2024 an article titled "How China Is Showing Its Development and Governance Experience" by Jevans Nyabiage.
China has stepped up its efforts to export its governance and development model to countries in Africa. At the level of African ruling political parties, there is the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology in Zimbabwe, which China refurbished and where it provides training. An even better example is the CPC-funded Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania for the ruling political parties in Tanzania, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
Ethiopia Insight published on 4 September 2024 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Oversight Vacuum Breeds Weak Opposition Parties" by Temelso Gashaw, human rights lawyer.
There are currently 71 registered Ethiopian national and regional political parties. Many are weak, fringe parties that exist as a result of Ethiopia's party registration and financing system. Ethnic and religious identity define most of these parties and most are considered to be the "private property of their leaders."
Ethiopia Insight posted on 28 June 2024 a commentary titled "How Not to Conduct a National Dialogue" by Moges Zewdu Teshome, Vienna School of International Studies.
The author argues that Ethiopia's national dialogue appears to be "an attempt to confuse a domestic audience, buy time, and gain international approval." He concludes that "the process is neither national, nor a dialogue" and offers recommendations to reinvigorate it.
The Hudson Institute posted on May 17, 2024, a conversation between South Africa's deputy leader of the Freedom Front Plus political party, Corne Mulder, and Joshua Meservey.
South Africa's Freedom Front Plus (FF+) political party is one of four in the country that has ten or more seats in Parliament. It began as an Afrikaner party and subsequently added minority groups across South Africa. It functions in opposition to the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
At about minute 38, the discussion turns to foreign policy where Mulder provides the FF+ view of the ANC's approach to relations with the West and especially the United States. He argues that the ANC is hostile to Washington and has fallen under the influence of China, Russia, and Iran.
