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.

China's Growing Security Role in West Africa

The Mercator Institute for China Studies and Konrad-Adenauer -Stiftung published in July 2020 a major study titled "China's Growing Security Role in Africa: Views from West Africa, Implications for Europe" by Tom Bayes.

The report examines the growing role of China in West African security and seeks to understand the nature and scope of  China's role as a security actor now and in the future.  It considers China's substantive impact on West African security dynamics and the views of West African political and military decision makers on China's emergence as a security partner.

Why Burkina Faso Switched Recognition from Taiwan to China

The Diplomat published on 16 January 2019 an article titled "Explaining China's Latest Catch in Africa" by Oana Burcu, University of Nottingham, and Eloise Bertrand, University of Warwick.

In May 2018, Taiwan lost one of its last allies in Africa when Burkina Faso switched its diplomatic recognition to China. While bilateral dollar diplomacy played a role, so did regional dollar diplomacy. Burkina Faso received an attractive financial package from Beijing. China also said it would not support the regional security G5 Sahel Joint Force (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad) so long as Ouagadougou continued to recognize Taiwan. Once Burkina Faso recognized Beijing, it allowed China to fund the regional organization.

Trump Administration and African Security

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 6 November 2017 a commentary titled "What Trump's Stance on Africa Means for Continental Security Efforts" by Omar S. Mahmood and Ndubuisi Christian Ani, researchers at ISS in Addis Ababa.

The authors conclude that the Trump administration will reduce funding for UN peacekeeping operations and AMISOM in Somalia while placing greater emphasis on bilateral efforts to defeat extremism and terrorism in Africa.