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.  

Sudan: A Country Study

The Library of Congress published in 2015 a book titled Sudan: A Country Study edited by LaVerle Berry.  It is a comprehensive study on the history, geography, government, politics, economy, foreign relations and society of Sudan.  Although most of the writing for this effort ended several years ago, it offers a useful compendium of information about Sudan before the separation of South Sudan.  I wrote chapter 4: Government and Politics.

State-Society Relations in South Sudan

Kate Almquist Knopf, who has followed events in Sudan and South Sudan closely for years, wrote a paper for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in September 2013 titled "Fragility and State-Society Relations in South Sudan."

Karen Almquist Knopf/Twitter

She argues that the government of the Republic of South Sudan since independence in July 2011 has disappointed citizens and international partners alike. Ethnic divisions, long exploited by Khartoum during the war, have deepened because of the perception of Dinka dominance in the government.

While the population remains resilient, efforts to meet South Sudan's many challenges will fail unless there is greater trust and social cohesion between the government and citizens. Government actions to vilify ethnic communities home to rebel groups --such as the Murle population in Jonglei state -- and failure to hold security services accountable for attacks on civilians, destroy social cohesion across communities and prevent trust in the state.

She concludes that South Sudan's leadership can set a new course toward legitimacy, stability, and sustained development if it prioritizes building trust and social cohesion with the South Sudanese population.

The World's Muslims: Africa

The Pew Research Center published on 30 April 2013 a book length study titled "The World's Muslims: Religion, Politics, and Society."  The report examines the social and political views of Muslims around the world.  It is based on public opinion surveys between 2008 and 2012 in 39 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.  African countries included in the survey are Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

The study looks at sharia, religion and politics (democracy, religious freedom, Islamic political parties, extremism and suicide bombing), morality, women in society (veiling, divorce, inheritance, and women's rights), relations among Muslims, interfaith relations and religion, science and popular culture.