Somalia's Role in the UN Security Council

 The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in April 2026 a study titled "Somalia's Mandate in the UN Security Council 2025-2026."

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of Somalia's performance during its non-permanent term in 2025-2026 on the UN Security Council.  It evaluates Somalia's institutional capacity, diplomatic engagement, and strategic positioning within the Council. The study also identifies key gaps and offers practical recommendations to strengthen Somalia's diplomatic effectiveness.

China Gifts Kenya a Foreign Ministry

 The Brief posted on 9 April 2026 an article titled "China to Build Kenya's Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Landmark Aid Deal."

Kenya has signed a grant agreement with the China International Development Cooperation Agency paving the way for Beijing to construct a new headquarters for the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.  

While the project underscores deepening bilateral ties, it raises sovereignty concerns.  Critics warn that allowing a foreign power to finance and construct the headquarters of a ministry responsible for diplomacy and the handling of classified communications could pose security and sovereignty risks.

Beijing Shows Different Look in Africa Compared to US

 China-Africa Security Radar posted on 2 April 2026 a commentary titled "Beijing Capitalizes on Washington's Aggression" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.  

China's Vice President Han Zheng visited Kenya, South Africa, and Seychelles in March.  The author argues the visit was timed in the context of Washington's capture of the Venezuelan president and the US/Israeli war against Iran.  

Both developments demonstrated US willingness to deploy military power unilaterally and with little deference to international law.  This juxtaposition of events permitted Han Zheng to underscore to an African audience China's message of South-South solidarity, sovereign equality, and development partnership.   

Somalia Cancels All Deals with the UAE

 Aljazeera published on 13 January 2026 an article titled "'Last Straw': Somalia Cuts UAE Ties after Yemen Separatist's Illegal Entry" by Faisal Ali.  

Somalia cancelled all deals with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after UAE-backed Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi illegally entered Abu Dhabi through the breakaway region of Somaliland.  Mogadishu had other complaints against the UAE, but this was the final straw.  The two countries apparently did not break diplomatic relations.  

African Analyst Sees China's Global Security Initiative as Too Ambiguous

 The China-Africa Security Radar posted on 4 January 2026 a commentary titled "Ambiguous by Design: China's Global Security Initiative and Africa's Security Dilemma" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.  

China's Global Security Initiative (GSI), now in its fourth year, offers a framework so ambiguous that it risks becoming what it claims to oppose -- another external power shaping African security on its own terms.  The GSI lacks clear implementation mechanisms, accountability structures, or frameworks addressing critical concerns about data sovereignty, surveillance technology governance, and whether security cooperation protects Chinese economic interests or addresses root causes of African instability.

China Strongly Opposes Israel's Recognition of Somaliland

 The South China Morning Post published on 29 December 2025 an article titled "China Hits Out at 'Support for Separatist Forces' After Israel Recognizes Somaliland" by Jevans Nyabiage.

China has strongly criticized Israel's recognition of Somaliland, which declared unilateral independence from Somalia in 1991.  Israel is the first country to formally recognize Somaliland.  China has taken a strong position on the Somaliland issue because it coincides with its position on Taiwan.  

Nigeria Seeks to Maximize Benefits of Relations with US and China

 Nigeria's P.M. News published on 16 September 2025 an article titled "Beyond Dependency: US-China Trade Rivalry as Opportunity for Nigeria" by Emmanuel Yashim.  

Drawing on a thoughtful discussion of US and China relations with key countries in Latin America, the article emphasizes that the question for Nigeria is not which partner, the United States or China, to embrace but how to manage both relationships so they serve Nigeria's national development.  The article warns of the dangers of excessive debt and suggests that Nigeria's large trade deficit with China is unsustainable.  

China Walks Delicate Line on Western Sahara Dispute

 Modern Diplomacy published on18 July 2025 an analysis titled "The Chinese Stance on the Moroccan Sahara Shifts from Neutrality to Subtle Backing of Sovereignty" by Jamal Laadam.

As China weighs its relations with Morocco and Algeria, its approach to the Moroccan Sahara issue is marked by "thought-out neutrality," balancing core principles of Chinese foreign policy with increasing strategic interests in Morocco.

Ethiopian Sovereignty: How To Maintain It

 Ethiopia Insight published on 11 August 2025 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Sovereignty Illusion: Who Really Pulls the Strings?" by Eyob Yohannes, data analyst in Ethiopia.

The author argues that true economic power in Ethiopia lies in institutions outside the country such as the International Monetary Fund.  He says the solution is reducing dependence on Western lenders and pivoting to alternative partners such as the BRICS, African regional banks, and South-South trade blocs.

Tigray Secession Movement in Ethiopia

 Ethiopia Insight published on 22 July 2025 a commentary titled "Tigray Needs Democracy Before Secession" by Abrar Fitwi, St. Mary's College in Indiana.  

The author comments on the agenda of the recently created Tigrayan diaspora advocacy group called Voice of Independent Tigray (VIT) based in Maryland.  While the author does not oppose self-determination, he argues that it must be based on a democratic foundation or it will become something hollow or worse, oppressive.  

Comment:  Tigrayans need to ask themselves at least one more question.  Would a democratic and independent Tigray be economically viable or just another small, landlocked state largely dependent on foreign assistance?   

What Are Ethiopian Prime Minister's Geopolitical Aspirations?

 Aljazeera published on 14 November 2023 a commentary titled "Abiy Ahmed's Imperial Ambitions Are Bad News for Africa, and the World" by Tafi Mhaka, Aljazeera columnist.  

Drawing on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's 13 October speech to parliament in which he mused that perhaps Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia should merge as one nation, the author suggests this should be a cause of concern for anyone interested in peace and stability in East Africa.  

Articles on China's Presence in Africa

 Good Governance Africa published in June 2023 an edition with a series of articles on China's presence in Africa titled "Sovereignty in an Emerging Multipolar World."

The articles are:

--Chinese Media in South Africa: An Overview by Barry Van Wyk.

--Resuscitating Indigenous Languages through Translanguaging Pedagogy within the Evolution and Dynamics of Teaching Mandarin in Nigeria and South Africa by Philip Ademola Olayoku.

--Chinese Companies' Corporate Social Responsibility in the Eyes of Local Communities in Kenya: A Public diplomacy Approach by Cliff Mboya.

--Chinese Vloggers' Representations of Sub-Saharan Africa on Douyin: An Exploratory Study by Isak Wang and Ann Wang.

--The China Factor in Africa's Pursuit of Digital Sovereignty by Mandira Bagwandeen.

Russia-South Africa-US Imbroglio

 Politico published on 1 June 2023 an article titled "A U.S. Envoy's Tongue-lashing of South Africa Infuriates Foggy Bottom" by Nahal Toosi.  

In December 2022, a Russian cargo ship docked at South Africa's Simon's Town naval base and, according to public comments by the US ambassador to South Africa, took on a supply of arms for use against Ukraine.  South Africa agreed to investigate the charge, but was outraged that the US ambassador discussed it publicly.  If the arms transfer proves to be true, it would undermine South Africa's assertion of neutrality on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  

Can China Broker Peace in Sudan?

 The Diplomat published on 9 May 2023 a commentary titled "Can China Broker Peace in Sudan?" by Matai Muon, University of Oxford, and Brian Wong, Balliol College, Oxford.  

The authors argue that China could hold the key to any future peace in Sudan, but caveats limit the extent to which Beijing can play a constructive role: (1)  China's long-standing preference to steer clear of internal, civil strife in conflict-prone nations; (2) China's diminishing socioeconomic and political interests within Sudan; and (3) the complex geopolitical nature of the conflict.  

South Africa's Ruling Party Aligns with Communist Party of China

 South Africa's News 24 ran an article on 15 March 2023 titled "Ramaphosa Reaffirms Friendship with Chinese Communist Party Whose 'Foreign Policy Posture' ANC Admires" by Juniour Khumalo.  

President Cyril Ramaphosa who is also leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) reaffirmed cordial relations with the Communist Party of China and reiterated South Africa's support of the non-aligned foreign policy position taken by the Asian country on the Russia-Ukraine war.  Without mentioning the United States by name, Ramaphosa added that the ANC detested the domination by a single state or its nation's military, and economic power, over how the rest of the world ought to conduct itself.

Ethiopia: Will US National Interests Trump Accountability?

 Foreign Policy published on 14 March 2023 a commentary titled "Ethiopia Is Not Ready for Transitional Justice" by Seifudein Adem, Doshisha University, and Abadir M. Ibrahim, Harvard Law School.  

The authors argue that Ethiopia is unprepared for implementing a transitional justice process in the aftermath of a brutal civil war.  The United States may be setting itself up to reengage with Ethiopia on the grounds of national interest  that trump accountability for atrocities during the war.  

China Elaborates on Its Global Security Initiative

 President Xi Jinping announced on 21 April 2022 a new Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the Boao Forum for Asia's annual conference in China.  This nebulous initiative raised more questions than it answered about China's "new" security policy.  

On 21 February 2023, China issued "The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper" that provided additional details about the initiative.  Foreign Minister Qin Gang summarized the concept paper by noting it lays out 20 priorities of cooperation for "upholding the UN's role in security governance; promoting coordination and sound interactions among major countries [not identified], facilitating peaceful settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue; tackling traditional and non-traditional security challenges; and strengthening the system and capacity for global security governance."

Comment:  There is relatively little that is "new" in the GSI, although several themes have evolved in the Xi Jinping era.  It mostly brings together long-standing Chinese foreign policy principles such as support for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, multilateralism, dialogue, and opposition to sanctions.  The concept paper underscores the centrality of Xi Jinping's "community of shared security for mankind" and support for the UN and African Union's peacekeeping mandate, peaceful coexistence, arms control, ASEAN-centered regional security cooperation, Africa-led counter-terrorism operations, UN-led fight against global terrorism, international security governance on artificial intelligence and outer space, global food and energy security, the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and cooperation to address climate change.

China's goal is clearly to place security issues in forums where China has more influence or has established mechanisms where it has control such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference.  

China's Global Security Initiative and Africa

 The Council on Geostrategy published in September 2022 a paper titled "What Is China's Global Security Initiative?" by Chris Cash, UK parliamentary China Research Group.  

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC, announced in April 2022 the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference.  Cash explains that it remains a vague concept that is an effort to provide an alternative to the existing geopolitical order.  It is not yet clear how the GSI, which is long on principles and short on practical details, will be operationalized.  A case can be made that the GSI simply represents a CPC repackaging of existing security objectives with a new propaganda wrapping.  Nevertheless, it is now a core component of Xi Jinping's "comprehensive security" and needs to be taken seriously.  

China has prioritized the GSI in the Horn of Africa, where Beijing has its only military base outside China in Djibouti.  China has also attached the GSI label to China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035 and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa.  Beijing's special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Xue Bing, organized the first ever China-Horn of Africa Peace Conference in Addis Ababa in June 2022, reportedly to mediate conflicts in the region.  China cited this conference as an early achievement of the GSI.  (Never mind that it produced nothing more than flowery press releases.)

Comment:  Those of us interested in China's approach to security have been struggling with the significance and future of GSI.  Chris Cash's analysis is the best I have seen so far, but GSI remains an elusive initiative.  

US Government Statement on Outbreak of Conflict in Ethiopia

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on 24 August 2022 titled "Five Months of a Humanitarian Truce in Ethiopia."  He called on all parties to end hostilities and return to the peace process.  He added that the United States remains committed to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ethiopia.

African Sovereignty and Chinese Debt

 The Africa Report published on 15 August 2022 a commentary titled "Is Africa Undercutting Its Sovereignty with China's Debt-trap Diplomacy?" by Sally Boyani.

To the extent African countries get into difficulty with China over debt, these are choices African leaders have made freely.  African sovereignty was undercut over a century ago but African leaders need to be careful not to lease their independence for the next 100 years.