Chinese Diplomacy in Africa

 The LSE Blog posted on 6 August 2025 a commentary titled "China is Reshaping Global Power Dynamics through Diplomatic Ritual" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah, Lingnan University, and Christian Kaunert, Dublin City University.

In January 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made his first overseas trip of the year to Africa--Chad, Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Nigeria--a practice the Chinese foreign minister has done every year since 1991.  The author argues that Wang Yi's trip represents a systematic erosion of Western influence in Africa.

Can China Replace the West in the Sahel of Africa?

 The Conversation published on 10 February 2025 a commentary titled "Power Vacuum in West Africa's Sahel: 3 Ways China Could Fill the Gap as West Exits" by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University.

As France and the United States pull back or are forced out of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Senegal, and Cote d'Ivoire, Beijing could take advantage by expanding investment in critical minerals, resolving the internal crisis in ECOWAS, and increasing arms sales in the region.  

Russia and the West: Trying to Get It Right in the Sahel

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 30 July 2024 an analysis titled "The West's Loss of the Sahel: Not (only) Russia's Doing" by Dan Whitman.  

Russian disinformation alone is not responsible for the rejection of France and the United States in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.  Weak democracies, historic resentment of French colonialism, and disillusionment with Western military assistance contributed to the problem.  Russia just exploited African ire.  Are the Russians next to experience African disillusionment?  

Niger-Benin Dispute Imperils Chinese Oil Project

 The South China Morning Post published on 13 July 2024 an article titled "As Crises Hit Plagued Niger-Benin Oil Pipeline, It May Be Up to China to End the Deadlock" by Jevans Nyabiage.

A dispute between Niger and Benin is blocking the export of Niger's oil through a port in Benin.  A Chinese company financed, built, and operates the pipeline.  It may be up to China to resolve the dispute so that Niger's oil can reach the world market.

Temporary Resolution of Niger-Benin Dispute Allows Oil to Go to China

 The South China Morning Post published on 21 May 2024 an article titled "After Talks with China, Benin Eases Oil Export Ban against Niger."

Benin allowed a shipment of crude oil that arrived by a Chinese-built pipeline from Niger to depart for China following discussion with a delegation from state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation.  China has considerable economic leverage with both countries and likely used it to end their dispute, thus allowing the oil to depart by ship.  

Benin Blocks China's First Oil Shipment from Niger

 Business Insider published on 9 May 2024 an article titled "Benin Blocks China's First Oil Shipment from Niger over Border Feud" by Adekunle Agbetiloye.  

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) constructed a 1,200-mile pipeline to transport oil from Niger to a port on the Atlantic Ocean in Benin, as part of a $4.6 billion Chinese investment in Niger's oil sector.  Benin restricted the first export of fuel by ship from its port in retaliation for the Nigerien military government's continuing closure of the border with Benin, thus preventing the shipment of goods by truck from Benin to Niger.  In the meantime, CNPC is caught in the middle of the dispute between these two countries. 

Russia and China Move to Replace France and the United States in Niger

 The South China Morning Post published on 29 March 2024 an article titled "Niger Cosies Up to 'New Friends' China and Russia Just Days After Sending US Military Packing" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

The new military regime in Niger pushed France out of the country several months ago and has now asked the US military, which had a counterterrorism base in the country, to leave.  Russia and China were quick to move in behind France and the United States.  Russia is seeking military cooperation while China is more interested in protecting it long-standing oil interests.

Is Niger Military Regime Looking to Russia to Prop It Up?

 The Conversation published on 29 January 2024 a commentary titled "Niger and Russia Are Forming Military Ties: 3 Ways This Could Upset Old Allies" by Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University.

The author looks at the prospects for engagement in Niger of Russia's new Africa Corps (previously the Wagner Group) and the implications this would have for relations with the European Union, France, US, and key countries in Africa.  

China's Conflict Resolution in Mali

 The Stimson Center published on 26 January 2024 a study titled "China's Conflict Resolution and Mediation Approach in Mali" by Lina Benabdallah, Wake Forest University.  

The study examines the drivers of China's cautious approach to conflict resolution and mediation in the Sahel region with a case study of Mali.  The author argues that China seeks to avoid diplomatic entanglements with Western powers while protecting its economic and security interests.

Secretary Blinken's Visit to Africa Follows One by China's Foreign Minister

 Modern Diplomacy published on 18 January 2024 an article titled "Blinken to Refocus on Africa as Russia, China Make Gains."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola 21-26 January.  The trip follows one by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Egypt, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Togo.  The article implies there is a connection on the timing of Blinken's visit to the one by Foreign Minister Wang.  

Comment:  The media tend to see these visits as an example of US/China/Russia competition, especially when they occur one after the other and when one or more of the same countries are visited.  But Secretary of State visits unrelated to world crises such as the war in Gaza are usually planned months in advance and normally have no connection to visits by other world leaders.  

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.  

The Military Coup in Niger Explained

 For an excellent account of the military coup d'état in Niger and its aftermath, see "The Niger Coup's Outsized Global Impact" published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on 31 August 2023 and authored by Gilles Yabi.  

China Hosts Africans at Security Conference

 The South China Morning Post published on 29 August 2023 an article titled "China Welcomes Dozens of African States to Security Conference as It Seeks Greater Role in Continent" by Jack Lau.

The Third China-Africa Peace and Security Forum is underway in Beijing with security personnel from about 50 African countries.  China continues to eschew kinetic military activity in Africa and instead believes that security can be achieved through support for UN peacekeeping, training of African militaries, and economic development.  

Mali Army and Wagner Group Accused of Atrocities

 Human Rights Watch published on 24 July 2023 a statement titled "Mali: New Atrocities by Malian Army, Apparent Wagner Fighters."

Human Rights Watch stated that Malian armed forces and foreign fighters apparently from the Russia-linked Wagner Group have summarily executed and forcibly disappeared several dozen civilians in Mali's central region since December 2022.  

Is the Wagner Group Looking to Expand in Africa?

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published in April 2023 a study titled "The Wagner Group's Expanding Global Footprint" by Colin P. Clarke, Christopher Faulkner, Raphael Parens, and Kendal Wolf.  

As Wagner Group mercenaries appear to be stalled in Ukraine, the leadership of the organization may be looking to expand its activities in Africa in countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, and the DRC.  

Chinese-financed ECOWAS Headquarters on Schedule

 The News Agency of Nigeria published on 14 April 2023 an article titled "ECOWAS Reassures of  Completion of New Building by 2025."

The Economic Community of West African States asserted that its new headquarters building in Abuja will be completed by February 2025.  China financed the building and a Chinese company is the contractor.  

China to Finance and Build ECOWAS Headquarters: Better Late than Never

 News Agency of Nigeria published on 12 November 2022 an article titled "China to Donate World-Class Edifice to ECOWAS Commission by 2024."

China's ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, announced that China will build and fully fund a new headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria for the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  

Comment: In March 2018, China's ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, announced that he signed a memorandum of understanding with ECOWAS for a $31.6 million grant to build the new headquarters.  The project has apparently been delayed over difficulties in getting approval to build on the land.  

Africa's Ukraine Dilemma

 Foreign Affairs posted on 5 September 2022 a commentary titled "Africa's Ukraine Dilemma: Why the Continent Is Caught Between Russia and the West" by Nanjala Nyabola, a Kenya-based political analyst.

Only a handful of African countries have taken a strong stance on Putin's war against Ukraine, and even those have focused primarily on denouncing aggression more broadly.  There is skepticism in African capitals about taking the Western side in a faraway war in Europe, a skepticism which is also rooted in a power imbalance between the West and African countries.  

There are also practical reasons for failing to take Ukraine's side such as Russian disinformation in Africa, significant Russian arms sales to African countries, Soviet support for earlier African liberation movements, and the current influence of Russian mercenaries in several African countries. The predominant African position is to avoid taking sides and to encourage peace and diplomacy.  

Russia and China Rise in Africa, West Declines: a Japanese View

 The Sasakawa Peace Foundation published on 10 May 2022 a commentary titled "'Era of Coups' in Africa (Part I): The Emergence of Russia and China Amid the Decline of the West" by Koji Sakane, Japan International Cooperation Agency in Sudan.

The author argues that Russia has made major gains in Africa's security sector while China has done so in the economic sector.  In the meantime, Western influence on the continent declines.  

Some African Countries May Follow China's Lead on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

 Premium Times published on 20 April 2022 a commentary titled "Zelensky and Africa's Disunity on the Russia-Ukraine Crisis" by Oluwaseun Tella.

Some African countries may be following the lead of China, not Russia, in refusing to condemn Putin's invasion of Ukraine.