China-South Africa Supply Chain Issues

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 16 July 2026 an article titled "Beyond the Supply Chain: South Africa's China Dilemma" by Raghvendra Kumar.

The question facing South Africa is whether China's evolving supply chain diplomacy is designed to support Pretoria's fair and equitable participation or to reinforce Beijing's own geoeconomic priorities.  South Africa is China's largest trading partner in Africa, but it runs a large trade deficit with Beijing.  

The author concludes that South Africa's relationship with China will be successful only if Pretoria retains control over its critical infrastructure, strategic industries, and foreign policy choices.  

China Embeds Itself in Africa's Maritime Networks

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 10 June 2026 a paper titled "Beyond Ports: China Embeds Itself in Africa's Maritime Networks" by Paul Nantulya.  

China is Africa's largest trade partner, major financer and builder of African ports, and has embedded itself in other aspects of the continent's maritime networks.

China's growing role in training, governance, and data systems could entrench long-term influence over Africa's institutions, potentially normalizing Chinese standards and creating structural dependencies on Chinese-built physical and digital infrastructure.  This can limit Africa's domestic competition, divert scarce revenue, introduce data and security concerns, and reduce policy flexibility and bargaining power.

China-US Competition for Artificial Intelligence in Africa

 The South China Morning Post published on 5 March 2026 an article titled "Africa Emerges as New Arena in US-China Competition over Artificial Intelligence" by Lucy Quaggin.

Africa is increasingly seen as a critical region for artificial intelligence development because of its population and economic growth.  By 2050, one quarter of the world's population will be in Africa.  American and Chinese companies are competing for the African market and support to set standards.  

China's Digital Program in Africa

 Foreign Policy Watchdog posted on 20 February 2026 an article titled "The Shifting Sands of Influence: China's Strategic Investment in Africa's Digital Infrastructure."

Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE currently control about 40 percent of Africa's internet bandwidth and hold over 65 percent of smartphone market share in key African countries.  It is questionable if the West can respond effectively.  China may shape the continent's digital destiny.

US, China, and AI Competition in Africa

 The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs published on 7 February 2026 an article titled "The United States, China, and AI Competition in Africa: Lessons for the Global South" by Alice Chen, Kobre & Kim LLP, and Neel U. Sukhatme, University of Michigan Law School.  

The article compares US and Chinese approaches to artificial intelligence (AI) exports in Africa and examines how these disparate approaches have produced both downstream benefits and challenges for the region.  Overall, the United States focus on domestic policy and corporate activity and China's focus on state strategy and infrastructure have presented unique opportunities and risks for African countries.  It concludes with policy recommendations for countries in the Global South to maximize benefits and mitigate risks associated with US-China AI competition.

China-Africa Relations Will Focus on Digital Silk Road

 Memesita, an independent digital news organization based in New York, posted on 1 February 2026 an article titled "China-Africa Relations: Trade, Investment & the Global South (2026)."

The China-Africa relationship in 2026 will not be about concrete and steel but rather silicon and signals.  A revolution is underway driven by digital infrastructure, fintech innovation, and a burgeoning tech ecosystem that is rapidly reshaping the economic and political landscape of the Global South.

China Mobile Activates 2Africa Submarine Cable

 TechAfrica News posted on 7 November 2025 an article titled "China Mobile Activates 2Africa East Submarine Cable to Strengthen Africa's Digital Backbone" by Kay-Lyne Wolfenden.

China Mobile has activated the 2Africa East Segment of its submarine cable system, marking a major milestone in enhancing Africa's digital infrastructure.  The 2Africa project connects 33 countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia.  

Chinese Surveillance Systems in Africa

 Instituto Analisi Relazioni Internazionali published on 9 September 2025 an article titled "Chinese Surveillance Systems in Africa: A SWOT Analysis" by Daniele Balducci.

Some 22 African countries have contracted with Chinese companies for the acquisition of digital surveillance technologies.  African countries have a variety of reasons for turning to Chinese companies, including affordable prices and wanting to diversify their sourcing.  The article identifies strengths and weaknesses of partnering with Chinese companies.  

China Reshapes Africa's Media Landscape

 The blog for the SOAS China Institute at the University of London published on 30 July 2025 a commentary titled "How China Is Reshaping Africa's Information and Media Landscape" by Daouda Cisse, Gaston Berger University in Senegal.  

Chinese state media outlets like CGTN, Xinhua, and China Daily are now common features in African media spaces.  Beijing is helping to reshape Africa's media and governance landscape.  The issue becomes how African governments can benefit without compromising press freedom, data privacy, or democratic values.

China, Safe Cities, and Security in Africa

 China-Africa Security Radar posted on 24 August 2025 an article titled "China's Recasting of Safe Cities in Africa."

A Chinese safe city project in Sierra Leone is being described as a "concrete measure to implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI)."  This raises questions as to how China defines security and views both GSI and safe cities in Africa. 

US-China Artificial Intelligence Competition in the Global South

 The Atlantic Council published on 20 November 2024 an analysis titled "Assessing US-China Tech Competition in the Global South" by Hanna Dohmen.

The Global South is enthusiastic about using AI applications.  The US has most of the world's leading AI firms and applications.  China's approach to collaborating with the Global South on AI is significantly different than that of the United States.  China is promoting a centralized regulatory framework that does not align with that of the US and its allies.  

The US needs to offer a compelling vision for AI that resonates with the needs of developing nations while upholding values that ensure a fair and inclusive future.  

The Digital Silk Road and Digital Repression in the Indo-Pacific

 Article 19, a UK-based international organization with 9 regional offices devoted to freedom of expression, posted on 18 April 2024 a report titled "The Digital Silk Road: China and the Rise of Digital Repression in the Indo-Pacific."

The report examines China's digital infrastructure and governance influence in Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand.  While the study does not deal with Africa, it offers lessons for China's digital engagement with the continent.

The report argues that assessing China's partnerships and what they mean for rising repression is vital to understanding China's ambitions to rewire the world and rewrite the rules that govern the digital space.  By expanding its authoritarian model, China aims to ultimately supplant the tenets of internet freedom and rights-based principles of global digital governance.  

China's Information Campaign in Africa

 The Diplomat published on 23 October 2024 a commentary titled "China's Battle for Narratives in Africa" by Samir Bhattacharya and Yuvvraj Singh, both with India's Observer Research Foundation.  

China has built narratives to its advantage in Africa, a region that has increasingly become a theater of great power rivalry.  China's information strategy in Africa consists of three parts.  First, it hosts and trains numerous African media professionals each year, teaching them to promote Chinese investments as a positive force.  Second, China invests in local African media outlets, influencing their editorial practices to align with the Chinese narrative.  Third, China sells technology to African governments that enables tighter control over digital information, including blocking websites and shutting down internet access.  

China's Agenda at the Forum on China Africa Cooperation

 The China Global South Project published in August 2024 an analysis titled "China's Agenda at FOCAC 2024: Climate, Connectivity & Coalitions" by Cobus van Staden.

This report looks at the China-Africa relationship from the Chinese perspective as the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) approaches in September.  It explains why Africa matters to China, where the relationship currently stands, and what China's priorities will be at FOCAC.

China's Huawei to Build Digital Infrastructure in Guinea

 Wearetech.africa posted on 6 August 2024 an article titled "Guinea, Huawei Partner to Expand Digital Infrastructure, ICT Access" by Samira Njoya.

Guinea signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Huawei to develop high speed digital networks, including fiber optics, throughout the country.  Guinea received $60 million from the World Bank for digital products.  

Algeria, Egypt, and China's Digital Silk Road

 The Information Society published in 2024 an analysis titled "Learning along the Digital Silk Road? Technology Transfer, Power, and Chinese ICT Corporations in North Africa" by Tin Hinane El-Kadi, London School of Economics.  

The analysis investigates the technology spillovers emanating from two Chinese tech giants--Huawei and ZTE--in Algeria and Egypt.  It argues that despite localizing activities that bear the promise of generating significant linkages, the two Chinese tech firms created no meaningful learning opportunities for domestic entities that contribute to technological upgrading.  The Digital Silk Road risks creating new technological dependencies; locking local ICT actors into activities and relationships captured and defined by Chinese tech giants.  

China-Africa Digital Economy Cooperation

 The China-Africa Economic & Trade Research Institute and Datasparkle jointly published and released on 10 May 2024 a detailed document titled "Africa Digital Development Index and China-Africa Digital Economy Cooperation Report."

The report provides an analysis of Africa's digital economy and explores possibilities for collaboration between China and Africa.  It compiles data collected from African countries from 2014 to 2023, providing a comprehensive evaluation framework for Africa's digital economy across time, space, and domains.  The report highlights significant regional disparities and systemic imbalances in Africa. It cites Kenya-China cooperation as a model for future digital collaboration.  

China Is Critical to Africa's Digital Development, But At What Cost?

 The Conversation published on 27 February 2024 a commentary titled "Africa Needs China for Its Digital Development--But at What Cost?" by Stephanie Arnold, University of Bologna.

China's involvement by companies such as Huawei and ZTE has been critical in African digital development. While it is often argued that China has been successful because it offers the cheapest technology, the author suggests it is due more to the fact that Chinese contractors are attractive partners because they offer full package solutions that include financing. 

The downside is that China seeks to promote Chinese digital standards and norms, including its technological and ideological principles.  That includes China's interpretation of human rights, data privacy, and freedom of speech.  China's Digital Silk Road seeks to establish a Sino-centric global digital order.  Over-reliance on a single infrastructure supplier makes the client more vulnerable and can result in digital authoritarianism.  The remedy is to diversify infrastructure supply.  

 

China is Africa's Preferred Partner for Digital Infrastructure

 The Centre for International Governance Innovation published in October 2023 a study titled "Navigating Africa's Digital Partnerships in a Context of Global Rivalry" by Folashade Soule.  

The study highlights how African governments are choosing their digital partners.  Africa's choice of China as its preferred partner for digital infrastructure has more to do with China offering a suitable mix of financial and technological value and the lack of viable Western alternatives, than geopolitics.  

Shaping the Future of Africa-China Engagement

 The Collectif pour le Renouveau Africain (CORA or Collective for African Renewal) published in October 2023 a 313 page report titled "Shaping the Future of Africa-China Engagement" edited by Folashade Soule.  

Written from an African perspective, the report's goal is to engage both scholars and African policymakers to rethink how the Africa-China relationship can be better rebalanced in order to address its inherent structural asymmetries and benefit Africa more.  It consists of 8 contributions (6 in English and 2 in French) that investigate how Africa-China relations impact the political economy of African states, and how both governmental and non-governmental African actors organize and benefit or not from these relationships.

The report is structured around the following four thematic topics: (1) enhancing governance frameworks in Africa-China relations; (2) strengthening local agency in Africa-China negotiations; (3) redefining labor norms and practices in Africa-China projects; and (4) reinforcing societal issues in Africa-China governmental engagement.  

It contains the following contributions:

--The Digital Silk Road and Emerging African Data Governance Frameworks: Evidence from Egypt by Tin Hinane el Kadi, London School of Economics

--People-Centered Engagement: Ghanaians' Perspectives on Ghana-China Security Relations by Sulley Ibrahim, Conflict Research Network West Africa

--Limited Local Agency? Local Community Benefits and Challenges in Chinese Funded Infrastructure Projects in Kenya by Oscar Otele, University of Nairobi

--Kambele: Une Exploitation Miniere Camerounaise a Visage Chinois? by Nya Mbessa Merlin Brice, University of Yaounde

--Chinese Miners, Community Resistance and Collaboration in Ghana by Isaac Odoom, Carleton University

--Twyford Ceramics: Un Capitalisme Chinois en Afrique? - Position Paper by Ibrahima Niang, University of Cheikh Anta Diop

--(Re-)Defining the Role of the African University in Africa-China Relations by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University

--A Case of Several Asymmetries: Integrating Racial Questions into Africa-China Governmental Relations by Runako Celina, Black Livity China