The New York Times published on 14 October 2024 an article titled "Russia's Latest Target in Africa: U.S.-funded Anti-Malaria Programs" by Elian Peltier.
A Russian disinformation program is attacking US-funded health care programs in Africa to weaken Western interests there. The disinformation can usually be traced back to someone close to the Russian government or Russian institutions.
The Hinrich Foundation published on 15 October 2024 a commentary titled "How Much of China's Investment into Africa Is Real?" by Stewart Paterson.
The author argues that China's FDI in Africa is overstated because announced projects are sometimes subsequently cancelled or turn out to be financing deals and not FDI. He cites examples in Egypt, Angola, and South Africa to make the case.
African Arguments published on 6 October 2024 an analysis titled "Ethiopia's Quest for a Seaport, Egypt and the Geopolitics of the Nile Basin" by Mohamed Kheir Omer.
This piece reviews the historical animosity between Ethiopia and Egypt, concluding that only renewed dialogue and mutual compromise can pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region.
The Diplomat published on 12 October 2024 a commentary titled "Boiling 54 Eggs: China's Approach to Africa" by Peter Krasnopolsky, University of Nottingham.
The author concluded that China's engagement in Africa is becoming more decentralized. He added that Beijing's "win-win" rhetoric in Africa is under question.
The Diplomat published on 10 October 2024 a commentary titled "China Pitches Its Model of Modernization to the Global South" by Shruti Jargad, New Delhi-based Centre for Social and Economic Progress.
The author identifies four central tenants of China's "new" modernization model for the Global South. They are: (1) economic globalization conducted by a strong party-led state; (2) non-interference in domestic political affairs and a focus on training and sharing governance strategies; (3) mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and greater security; and (4) a focus on infrastructure combined with people centric "small and beautiful" development.
Xinhua published on 13 October 2024 an article titled "Chinese, Zimbabwean Universities Launch Research Center on Civilization Exchanges."
The China-Africa Joint Research Center for Exchanges and Mutual Learning between Civilizations opened on 11 October at the University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with Renmin University of China. The spokesperson for the University of Zimbabwe emphasized joint research projects and exchange programs that focus on innovation and industrialization. The spokesperson from Renmin University said the center will promote exchanges and research in education and scientific cooperation.
The South China Morning Post published on 14 October 2024 an article titled "Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms Expand to Africa under 'Health Silk Road'" by Jevans Nyabiage.
As Chinese pharmaceutical companies maximize production in China, they seek business opportunities outside the country, including Africa, which also has the world's fastest growing population.
Addis Insight published on 13 October 2024 an article titled "A Landmark Moment: Nile River Basin Commission Formed as CFA Takes Effect."
The Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) took effect as of 13 October following ratification by six of the ten members. Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan have now ratified the CFA.
Members that have not yet ratified the CFA are Egypt, Sudan, the DRC, and Kenya. Eritrea is an observer of the Nile Basin Initiative.
Nova News published on 13 October 2024 an article titled "Africa: Egypt and Sudan Reject New Nile River Deal that Just Came into Force."
Egypt and Sudan quickly rejected the CFA, arguing that the six-state commission is not representative of the Nile Basin as a whole.
For the text of the CFA visit here.
Comment: It is not clear where this leaves the CFA with Sudan and Egypt rejecting it and Kenya and the DRC not yet ratifying it.
The New York Times published on 12 October 2024 a commentary titled "'Are We Not Humans?'" by Nicholas Kristof.
Kristof recently visited the Chad-Sudan border area and wrote about the ongoing tragedy in Sudan. This is a follow up commentary in which he responds to questions from readers about what can be done to improve the situation.
The American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats published on 10 October 2024 an article titled "The ENDF Launched a Counteroffensive against Ethno-nationalist Insurgents Known as Fano in Ethiopia's Northwestern Amhara Region."
This is a summary of recent military action involving the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and the Fano militia in Amhara Region.
The BBC published on 10 October 2024 an article titled "Eritrea, Egypt and Somalia Cement 'Axis against Ethiopia'" by Teklemariam Bekit.
The Presidents of Eritrea, Egypt, and Somalia met in Asmara on 10 October. Eritrea issued a statement at the conclusion of the summit calling for "respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the countries of the region." The article interpreted the purpose of the summit as an alliance aimed at Ethiopia.
Aljazeera published on 10 October 2024 an article titled "Somalia, Eritrea and Egypt Pledge to Bolster Security Ties."
The article gave a less confrontational interpretation to the summit but noted that Egypt has pledged to send troops to Somalia for the new African Union peacekeeping mission.
The Associated Press published on 10 October 2024 an article titled "Yemen's Houthi Rebels Attack a Liberian-flagged Ship in the Red Sea" by Jon Gambrell.
Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked and damaged on 10 October a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker on the African side of the Red Sea. The ship continued its voyage.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury posted on 8 October 2024 a press release titled "Treasury Sanctions Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Procurement Director."
The United States sanctioned on 8 October Algoney Hamdan Daglo Musa, the procurement director of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and younger brother of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the RSF.
War on the Rocks published on 9 October 2024 a commentary titled "After Prigozhin, the Wagner Group's Enduring Impact" by Jack Margolin.
The current iteration of the Wagner Group continues both military and commercial operations in Mali and the Central African Republic in close coordination with Russian security services. Russia allows the Wagner Group to survive. At the same time, there is no unified Russian plan for Africa.
Reuters published on 8 October 2024 an article titled "Sudan's Warring Sides Target Local Aid Volunteers Fighting Famine" by Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz.
The article documents repeated attacks on community kitchens operated by volunteers dedicated to feeding hungry Sudanese in a war zone. Soldiers from both the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan Armed Forces have attacked the volunteers, forcing some of them to shut down their kitchens or even leave Sudan.
Reuters published on 8 October 2024 an article titled "UN Weighs Suspending Relief to Ethiopia's Amhara after Aid Workers Attacked, Document Shows" by Reade Levinson and Giulia Paravicini.
Five aid workers were killed, 10 assaulted, and 11 kidnapped by unidentified criminal gangs in Amhara Region between January and June 2024. The United Nations is seriously considering a temporary suspension of relief operations in Amhara Region unless the government can guarantee their safety.
The Wall Street Journal published on 8 October 2024 an article titled "South Sudan's Economic Crisis Is So Bad It's Taxing Its Only Lifeline" by Nicholas Bariyo.
South Sudan's economy is collapsing as a result of disruption to its oil exports, flooding, and mismanagement. The government has resorted to taxing international aid deliveries and supplies belonging to the UN peacekeeping operation that helps protect it.
The Voice of America published on 4 October 2024 an article titled "Somalia-Ethiopia Tensions Escalate: UN Urges Diplomatic Resolution" by Mohamed Olad Hassan.
Somalia is firmly against having Ethiopian troops as part of the new African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) as tension between the two countries escalates in the aftermath of Ethiopia's MOU with Somaliland. The United Nations urged that Somalia and Ethiopia resolve their differences through diplomacy as the AU mission is being established.
Military Africa published on 5 October 2024 an article titled "Russian and Chinese Warships to Attend SA Navy Festival" by Sarah Lesedi.
The Russian Navy's frigate Neustrashimy and replenishment ship Akademik Pashin arrived in Simon's Town for the South African Navy Festival from 4 to 6 October. They were joined by the PLA Navy frigate CNS Xuchang.
The Daily Maverick published on 3 October 2024 an article titled "Russian and Chinese Warships Make Political Waves in Simon's Town" by Peter Fabricius.
The arrival of the two Russian ships raised concerns in the Democratic Alliance, part of South Africa's ruling coalition government, about South Africa's alleged non-partisan posture toward Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian community in South Africa expressed outrage at the presence of the Russian ships. The Daily Maverick was unable to get an answer from the government to its question why only warships from Russia and China were participating in the South African Navy Festival.
The European Council on Foreign Relations published on 4 October 2024 an article titled "Value-added and Value Lost: The Macroeconomic Limits of China's Africa Strategy" by Theodore Murphy.
China's manufacturing overcapacity relies on exports to the rest of the world, including Africa, flooding international markets with both low end and high-end Chinese-made goods. As African economies try to increase their low value manufactured products, they must compete with low-cost Chinese products. European economies face a similar problem from China's high-end manufacturing.
The author suggests European and African economic policy makers should counter Chinese overcapacity jointly while creating new areas for Africa-Europe economic cooperation.
West Point's Combating Terrorism Center's Sentinel published in October 2024 an analysis titled "A Draw Is a Win: The Houthis after One Year of War" by Michael Knights, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Between February and August 2024, an average of 852 ships per month transited the Red Sea compared to pre-war levels of more than 2,100 ships per month. The article provides an especially good analysis of the rationale the Houthis use to target ships passing through the Red Sea.
Of the ships that continue to transit the Red Sea, the Houthis are attacking less than 5 percent of them. The Houthis claim they only attack ships with a connection to Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom. But, in fact, the Houthis have attacked ships with a variety of connections, including those from China, Russia, and Iran.
Reuters published on 1 October 2024 an article titled "Ethiopia Expects 'Tangible Progress' on Deal with Creditor Nations by December" by Duncan Miriri.
Ethiopia defaulted on its external debt in December 2023 and hopes to reach a deal with creditors by the end of this year. Ethiopia's debt stands at about $29 billion with half of it owed to multilateral lenders like the IMF, World Bank, and African Development Bank. Of the $12 billion owed to bilateral lenders, China accounts for more than $7 billion, Paris Club countries under $2 billion, and Saudi Arabia just over $1 billion.
The March 2024 issue of The Journal of Modern African Studies published a review by Padraig Carmody of our book, China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement.
Global China Pulse published on 2 October 2024 a discussion titled "The Railpolitik: A Conversation with Yuan Wang" hosted by Hong Zhang, Indiana University.
The discussion deals with Yuan Wang's recent book on the political context in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Angola where Chinese funding and contractors have been involved in building high-profile railway projects promising to transform the local landscape. She identifies as a key factor the instrumentalization of the infrastructure by local leaders for the sake of their political survival.
The Russia Program at George Washington University published in September 2024 a carefully researched study titled "After Prigozhin Does Wagner Group Have a Future?" by Antonio Giustozzi and David Lewis, Royal United Services Institute.
Following the assassination of Yevgeniy Prigozhin, his son Pavel, has been working to establish the Wagner business on more independent footing. Th Russian government has accepted a compromise in the case of Mali and the Central African Republic and included the Wagner Group in its revised contracts. Wagner proved irreplaceable as far as engaging in combat was concerned. These African regimes showed a clear preference for trusting regime security to Wagner.
After some months attempting to figure out how to move on from Wagner, the Russian Ministry of Defense accepted that there was no real alternative to Wagner in Mali and the CAR and that having Wagner take on the most controversial jobs might continue to serve Moscow's interests. Pavel Prigozhin appears to have been exploring options for operating independently of the Ministry of Defense but, in the end, might not need to separate completely from it.
