Is US-China Cooperation in Africa Possible?

 The Asia Society Policy Institute posted this week a commentary titled "Avoiding Conflicts and Ensuring U.S.-China Cooperation in Africa: An African Perspective" by Abdeta Beyene, Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation in Addis Ababa.

The author argues that the United States and China have the potential to move beyond competition and instead foster meaningful cooperation in Africa.  He suggests a number of ways that China-US collaboration could work to the benefit of Africa.

Comment:  The author is correct that there is the potential for US-China cooperation in Africa and a number of years ago there actually was some modest cooperation.  The prospect for US-China cooperation in Africa is dependent, however, on the existing Sino-American bilateral relationship, which has been severely strained in recent years.  Until there is significant improvement in the China-US bilateral relationship, there is almost no prospect for collaboration in Africa.   

What Canada Can Learn from China's Engagement in Africa

 The Conversation posted on 28 April 2025 a commentary titled "What Canada Can Learn from China on Effectively Engaging with Africa" by Isaac Odoom, Carleton University.  

To build meaningful partnerships in Africa, Canada needs a more focused approach grounded in robust research, sharper priorities, and an informed understanding of Africa's political and economic realities. 

 The author argues Canada can draw important lessons from China's engagement in Africa.  The "countering China" narrative pursued by the United States ignores African agency and fails to acknowledge that African governments want a choice of partners and do not want to be forced to select just one.  Rather than compete with China in Africa, Canada can fill gaps left by China.  

What Has Been Accomplished with War on Houthis?

 Foreign Policy published on 22 April 2025 titled "Trump's War on the Houthis Is Going Nowhere" by Keith Johnson.

 The Trump administration has spent more than $1 billion in airstrikes on the Houthis, who remain as defiant as ever.  The Houthis charge that the administration has waded into a "quagmire."  There has been little transparency from the US side concerning the airstrikes, which are burning through precision munitions at a rapid rate. 

 

China Benefits Most from Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

 The Conversation published on 2 September 2024 a commentary titled "China Reaps Most of the Benefits of Its Relationship with Africa: What's Behind the Imbalance" by Bhaso Ndzendze, University of Johannesburg.  

At the 8 previous meetings of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China has reaped most of the benefits.  The fault lies with Africa's lack of a strategy for engagement with China.  The forum is a platform for China to dole out aid and loans to African countries, and to articulate priorities that serve its own broader ambitions.  Africa's voice is minimal in the agenda setting.  

Africa needs a concerted approach towards China and all of its so-called strategic partnerships.  The African Union Commission should negotiate and set the overall direction in these forums.  China has had a long-standing Africa strategy; Africa has none for China. The result is the imbalanced terms of trade between China and African countries.   

Can FOCAC Meet Africa's Current Needs?

 The Institute for Security Studies published on 28 August 2024 a paper titled "Can FOCAC Adapt to Meet Africa's Long-term Needs?" by Jana de Kluiver.  

African countries need to rethink the future direction of the China-Africa partnership.  As the geopolitical importance of Africa increases, African countries must align their effort at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation with the African Union's Agenda 2063.  FOCAC's success will depend on its ability to adapt to shifting global dynamics while meeting Africa's needs.  

China-Africa Debt Relations

 South Africa's Institute for Security Studies published on 2 November 2023 a brief paper titled "Navigating the Complex Terrain of China-Africa Debt Relations" by Jana De Kluiver.  

Public debt in Africa has surged to $1.8 trillion.  China extended loans exceeding $170 million to 49 African nations and regional institutions between 2000 and 2022.  This paper is a summary of a longer report that comments on China's role in African debt.  

China's Role in African Debt

 South Africa's Institute for Security Studies published on 1 November 2023 a policy brief titled "Africa's Debt Dilemma: China's Role and Implications for Development" by Jana De Kluiver.  

China is not the primary cause of African debt distress, but does raise concerns due to lack of transparency, clauses impacting local industries, and the absence of collective restructuring options in Chinese loan contracts.  

Africa's Unreported Debt to China

 The Review of International Organizations published in September 2023 an analysis titled "Why Hide? Africa's Unreported Debt to China" by Kathleen J. Brown.  

Governments intentionally hide debts from international financial institutions to maximize their ability to borrow while avoiding punishment for rising debt burdens.  Half of the Chinese loans in Sub-Saharan Africa are missing from sovereign debt records.  Using data from Chinese bilateral loans to Sub-Saharan Africa, the author provides evidence that borrower governments intentionally hide debt from international financial institutions to circumvent constraints placed on their external debt.  

China's Success in Africa Due Largely to Absence of Competition

 Foreign Policy published on 22 May 2023 a commentary titled "U.S. Apathy Paved the Way for China in Africa" by Howard W. French.

The author argues that the rise of China in Africa has been a result largely of little competition from the West or anyone else.  

Responsibility of Social Media in Preventing Violence in Ethiopia

 The International Crisis Group published on 25 April 2023 a commentary titled "What Facebook Does (and Doesn't) Have to Do with Ethiopia's Ethnic Violence" by William Davison, Jane Esberg, and Alessandro Accorsi.

The commentary discusses the responsibility of social media companies, in this case Meta, for dealing with inflammatory content concerning Ethiopia that has the potential to lead to violence.  

Study Debunks Charges of China's Debt Trap Diplomacy

 Boston University Global Development Policy Center published in April 2023 a study titled "Demystifying Chinese Overseas Lending and Development Finance" by Oyintarelado Moses, Cecilia Springer, and Kevin P. Gallagher.  

The study found no evidence that China lends with the end goal of seizing a strategic public asset or gaining strategic leverage in the event of non-repayment.  Empirical evidence shows that China's overseas lending and development finance is associated with economic growth that benefits host countries.  However, this finance can pose social, environmental, and debt sustainability risks.

China and the Politics of Lithium Extraction in Africa

 Modern Diplomacy published on 20 February 2023 a commentary titled "The Politics of Lithium Extraction in Africa: Economic, Environmental and Geopolitical Impact" by Oksana Salabai, Jilin University China.

In 2020, China produced about 62 percent of global lithium production and accounted for about 64 percent of global lithium demand.  China used the majority of it in the production of electric vehicles.  Africa is the source of vast reserves of lithium.  

China seeks to secure access to critical resources such as lithium and to expand its influence in Africa.  China's pursuit of lithium resources in Africa is part of a broader strategy to secure access to critical resources around the world.  

Chatham House Podcast on China, Africa, Debt, and Great Power Competition

 Chatham House posted on 13 January 2023 a podcast on "China in Africa" with a number of experts from Chatham House.

The first 19 minutes of the 30 minute podcast focused on African debt held by China and great power competition in Africa involving China, Russia, and the West.  

Comparing Chinese-led Infrastructure Projects in Africa and Southeast Asia

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published in November 2022 a policy brief titled "Future Proofing Africa-China Infrastructure Cooperation" by Laura Rubidge and Cobus Van Staden.  

This policy brief provides a multi-sector comparison between African and Southeast Asian experiences of environmental socioeconomic and governance implementation in Chinese-led infrastructure projects.  It highlights recurring challenges and proposes concrete recommendations to mitigate these challenges in the future.  

US-China Competition in Africa

 The US Institute of Peace published on 7 December 2022 an analysis titled "10 Things to Know About the U.S.-China Rivalry in Africa" by Thomas P. Sheehy.

The author sets out 10 things he says we should know about China's role in Africa, how it impacts US interests, and what Africans want from US policy.  

Nigeria Offers Lessons for Interaction with China

 The Diplomat published on 10 November 2022 a commentary titled "What Nigeria Can Teach Us About China's Belt and Road" by Tola Amusan, University of Otago in New Zealand.

The author argues that the relationship between China and any single African nation is severely unbalanced in favor of Beijing.  Nigeria is a case study for what happens when an African government fails to exert its influence to shape its relationship with China to meet the needs of local people.  The political elites in countries like Nigeria are partially to blame for their lack of agency.  

Another View on China and African Debt

 Chatham House published on 3 August 2022 a commentary titled "Climbing Out of the Chinese Debt Trap" by Alex Vines.  

China's involvement in African debt has varied considerably and over time.  Having engaged in lending for poorer quality projects in earlier years, China is now imposing stronger sustainability requirements.  It is also paying a price for its lack of transparency.  This situation seems to have resulted in a decision to move away from loans and towards foreign direct investment.  

Chinese Investments, Transparency and Debt Sustainability in Africa

 AFRODAD recently commissioned and published a major briefing paper titled "Chinese Investments, Transparency and Debt Sustainability in Africa" by Lauren A. Johnston.  

It looks at foreign direct investment, development finance, and the impact of COVID-19 in Angola, the DRC, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  It also addresses the positive and negative impacts of Chinese loans on debt sustainability.  

China-Nigeria Oil-for-Infrastructure Deal

 China, Law and Development published on 24 May 2022 a research brief titled "China-Nigeria Oil-for-Infrastructure Deal: Addressing Opacity and Exclusion in the Award of Oil Drilling Rights" by Ngozi S. Nwoko, University of Victoria.  

Nigeria's need to close the critical infrastructure gap was a primary factor in the adoption of the oil-for-infrastructure investment model with China.  It also reflects a reaction to exploitation by Western oil companies.  

US Policy on Africa: Less China and More Democracy

 The US Institute of Peace (USIP) published on 14 October 2021 a commentary titled "In Africa, U.S. Should Focus More on Democracy, Less on China" by Thomas P. Sheehy, USIP, Paul Nantulya, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, and Gustavo de Carvalho, Institute for Security Studies.

The scholars argue the way for the United States to counter China in Africa is to promote democracy, human rights, and transparency.