Did the US and Ethiopia Agree to a "Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership?"

 The Ethiopian News Agency published on 21 August 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia, US Agree to Establish Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation in Defense, Security."

Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director General of Foreign Relations and Military Cooperation at Ethiopia's Ministry of Defense, led a high-level delegation to the United States on 19-20 August.  During a meeting at the US Department of Defense with the deputy assistant secretary for African affairs he said the two sides agreed that a "comprehensive and strategic partnership" will guide the future security relationship between the two countries.  

Comment:  So far, there has been no confirmation from the US side that a "comprehensive and strategic partnership" has been established with Ethiopia, although there has clearly been an improvement in the security relationship.  This is not language normally used by the United States to describe close security relationships with other countries.  The US has given "Major Non-NATO Ally Status" to 19 countries, which is a powerful symbol of the close relationship it shares with those nations.  The only countries in Africa so designated are Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya.  

Chinese Digital Infrastructure Company May Set Up Headquarters in Kenya

 Construction Review published on 18 August 2026 an article titled "Guodong Africa Headquarters: China's Telecom Giants Targets $300M Digital Infrastructure in Kenya."

China's Guodong Group is in discussion with Kenyan investment authorities about establishing the company's African headquarters there.  The proposed $300 million investment would support cloud computing, data storage, smart-city infrastructure, telecommunication towers, fiber networks, and green digital technologies.  No final decisions have been made.

Kenya Considers Chinese Bond Market

 Reuters published on 14 August 2026 an article titled "Kenya Eyes Debut Chinese Bond Market Issuance This Fiscal Year."

Kenya is considering issuing its first ever bond on the Chinese domestic debt market known as panda bonds, as it seeks to raise $300 million to plug a gaping hole in its budget for this fiscal year.  

Kenya has a budget deficit of 5.5 percent of gross domestic product for this fiscal year.  It is seeking financing from a variety of other sources.  

AU Mission in Somalia Plans for Earlier Exit

 AEIs Critical Threats Africa File posted on 13 August 2026 an article titled "Somalia--AUSSOM" by Michael DeAngelo.  

The African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has begun an accelerated handoff of responsibility to the Somali National Army.  AUSSOM's mission end date is December 2029, but the goal is to complete most of the handoff in 2028.  Al-Shabaab will likely exploit any lapse in counterterrorism efforts that might result from this decision.  

Somali Government Officials: Isolated with Dual Citizenship and Foreign Passports

 African Arguments published on 11 August 2026 a commentary titled "Somalia: A Government with One Foot Out the Door" by Ismail Abukar, a human rights advocate based in Mogadishu.  

A significant percentage of Somali officials are effectively ghost workers who do not come to their offices.  Many have foreign passports and dual citizenship.  At the same time, remittances from the diaspora have kept Somalia solvent.  

Somali Diaspora in Africa and Giving Back to Somalia

 The August 2026 issue of Africa Spectrum includes an "Introduction to the Special Issue: Giving in Somali Diaspora Humanitarianism in Africa" by Nauja Kleist and Mark Bardbury.

The articles in this special issue of Africa Spectrum demonstrate that Somali diaspora humanitarian engagement is continuously evolving and comes in many forms.  It is influenced by gender, generation, educational background, and socio-economic circumstances.  

The issue is unique in that it focuses on the Somali diaspora in a number of African countries and not the diaspora in North America or Europe.  

Open Access E-Book on Red Sea Region

 The Doha, Qatar-based Middle East Council on Global Affairs published in February 2026 an open access E-book titled "The Red Sea: Divided by Water, United by Opportunities" edited by Dalia Ghanem, Mehari Taddele Maru, Luigi Narbone, and Carlo Palleschi.

This book provides a comprehensive analysis that breaks down the silos between Middle Eastern countries (MECs) and the Horn of Africa (HOA).  It argues that it is impossible to understand the region's trajectory by looking at one side of the Red Sea in isolation and examines interactions between the MECs and the HOA.  It seeks to align visions and identify concrete steps toward realizing the vision of a region that, though divided by waters, is united by opportunities.  

China's AI Systems Making Rapid Gains in Africa

 The New York Times published on 5 August 2026 an article titled "China's A.I. Is Surging Across Africa.  That Should Worry Silicon Valley" by Paul Mozur, Adam Satariano, and Aaron Krolik.

China's AI is surging in Africa where buyers look for the best possible system at the lowest possible cost.  The Chinese systems are publicly available to download and modify without payment or approval.  Xi Jinping is using AI as a form of Chinese soft power.

 

Kenyan Bank Launches Renminbi Currency Payments with China

 Serrari posted on 4 August 2026 an article titled "Stanbic Bank Kenya Launches RMB Payments Through CIPS" by Montel Kamau.

Stanbic Bank Kenya has introduced direct Renminbi payment processing through China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS).  Businesses importing goods or services from China can now settle eligible transactions without routing every payment through longer conventional correspondent-banking chains.  

Comment:  This is one more indication of China's currency making inroads in the banking system of the Global South.  

The Horn of Africa Faces a Looming Polycrisis

 The Conversation published on 16 July 2026 a discussion summary titled "Africa's Greater Horn Region Is Facing a Looming Polycrisis Fueled by Conflict, Prices, Climate and Disease" by Daniel Maxwell, Alex de Waal, Luka Kuol, Merry Fitzpatrick, and Peter Hailey.

The impacts of a strengthening El Nino and effects of the war in Iran combined with existing prolonged crisis and conflict in the Horn of Africa are leading potentially to a major, multicountry polycrisis.

Chinese Private Sector Investment in Angolan Port Terminal

 Business Insider Africa published on 21 July 2026 an article titled "Another African Country Gets $900 Million Chinese-backed Port Investment Amid Beijing's Billion-dollar Race Across the Continent" by Olamilekan Okebiorun.

China's Huatong Angola Industry has signed a $900 million deal with Angola's state-owned Barra do Dande Development Company covering a 25-year sub-concession for the construction and operation of a port terminal and supporting infrastructure.  This is entirely a private sector investment.

This deal is part of a new Chinese investment strategy in Africa that is moving away from large government-backed loans and towards foreign direct investment, private financing, and commercially viable projects.  

China's New Gold Strategy Runs Through Africa

 TrendsNAfrica published on 1 July 2026 an article titled "China's New Gold Strategy Runs Through Africa:  How Beijing Is Rewriting the Global Bullion Market."

Beijing is quietly reshaping the mechanics of the international gold trade.  Its strategy involves dismantling speculative domestic paper-gold trading while building an international ecosystem centered on physical bullion, yuan-based settlements, and African mineral wealth.

About 40 percent of the world's remaining underground gold reserves are located in Africa.  China is reducing its holdings of US Treasury securities and replacing them with gold purchases, especially in Africa.  

African Views of the US vis-a-vis China Fall Since Beginning of Trump Administration

 The Pew Research Center published on 15 July 2026 research results titled "People in Many Countries Now View China More Positively than the U.S." by Jonathan Schulman, Laura Silver, Laura Clancy, and William Miner.

Pew surveyed public opinion of the United States and China in 36 countries, including 4--South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana--in Africa.  Since the beginning of the Trump administration, positive perceptions of the United States in the 4 African countries vis-a-vis China have fallen, although the US still maintains a slight lead in Ghana. 

Positive views of the United States and China today are: 

South Africa: 35 percent for the US and 52 percent for China

Nigeria: 63 percent for the US and 78 percent for China

Kenya: 63 percent for the US and 76 percent for China

Ghana: 68 percent for the US and 64 percent for China

When asked if they are confident Donald Trump or Xi Jinping will do the right thing, the results were:

South Africa: 26 percent for Trump and 46 percent for Xi

Kenya: 63 percent for Trump and 73 percent for Xi

Ghana: 54 percent for Trump and 56 percent for Xi

Nigeria: 65 percent for Trump and 62 percent for Xi

  

African Coffee Exports to China and Zero Tariffs

 Thierry Pairault posted on 11 July 2026 an analysis titled "The African Coffee Industry and the Chinese Tariff Exemption."

This working paper examines how China's coffee market has evolved and the role that Africa has played in it.  Africa is a modest source (7.4 percent in 2024) for Chinese coffee imports.  Five African countries export green coffee beans to China: Ethiopia (70 percent of the African total), Uganda (20 percent), Tanzania (5 percent), Kenya (3 percent), and Rwanda (2 percent).  

China is a minor customer for African coffee and all five countries except Kenya paid no tariffs prior to China's recent Africa-wide zero tariff policy.  The zero-tariff policy will benefit Kenya.  In addition, African producers are confronted with importer-processors who set the conditions of the market.  China's tariff exemption matters little in terms of shaping of their industrial and commercial strategies given that it affects only minimal quantities.  

Kenya's President Reaches Out to Somali Minority

 Foreign Policy published on 25 June 2026 an article titled "Will Kenya's Ruto Finally Reconcile with the Country's Somali Minority?" by Joseph Maina. 

Kenyan President William Ruto has reached out to the country's minority Somali population to bring them more effectively into Kenyan society.  Some Kenyans are skeptical that Ruto's outreach to the Somalis is sincere.  

China's Transsion Adds Electric Motorcycles to Its Smartphone Dominance in Africa

 Launch Base Africa published on 22 June 2026 an article titled "NewTrails Capital, Backed by Africa's Leading Smartphone Manufacturer, Invests $55M in EV Startup Spiro."

China's Transsion Holdings, Africa's biggest smartphone seller, currently commands nearly half of the continent's market.  Through its stake in a Chinese growth-stage fund called NewTrails Capital, Transsion is investing $55 million in Spiro, Africa's largest electric vehicle and battery-swapping company.  For Spiro, the relationship opens doors to Chinese suppliers that could be decisive as it scales.  

Major Fishing Powers Fail to Sign Mombasa Declaration

Oceana published on 17 June 2026 a news release titled "Sixteen Countries Adopt Mombasa Declaration to Advance Fisheries Transparency and Combat Illegal Fishing." 

Sixteen countries adopted the Mombasa Declaration at the 11th Our Ocean Conference committing to advance global fisheries transparency and strengthen efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.  The countries that signed are Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of Congo, Somalia, and South Korea.  

Maritimes Crimes published on 19 June 2026 an article titled "Kenya: Illegal Fishing Fight Gains Mombasa Backing."

The article notes that the world's most significant fishing powers, who represent a major share of global catches, did not sign the Mombasa Declaration.  They include China, Indonesia, Russia, India, Vietnam, and the United States. 

The Role of Masculinity and the Al-Shabaab Challenge

 The Royal United Services Institute published on 18 June 2026 a study titled "Masculinities and Violence in the Horn of Africa Borderlands" by Christopher Hockey and Claudia Wallner.

This paper reveals how masculinity norms fuel conflict, violent extremism, and gender-based violence in the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia borderlands, shaping al-Shabaab's recruitment and deepening insecurity.  It is based on interviews with experts and community members in two communities: one at the tripoint where Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia meet and the other at the Kenya-Somalia border on the Indian Ocean coastline.

It offers actionable recommendations for defense and security practitioners to address these interconnected challenges.  

Kenya-US Critical Minerals Deal Counters China

 Reuters published on 17 June 2026 an article titled "Kenya, US Close in on Critical Minerals Deal, Ruto Says" by John Irish.

Kenya and the United States are about to close a deal on critical minerals that would allow Kenya to process the minerals domestically, a demand that African countries are increasingly making in their negotiations with buyers.  This is also an effort by the Trump administration to compete with China for African critical minerals.  

Kenya Deports Taiwan Attendees at International Conference

 Aljazeera published on 17 June 2026 an article titled "Taiwan Accuse Kenya of Deporting Conference Delegates on China's Behalf."

Taiwan accused Kenya of deporting two of its nationals who planned to attend a global oceans conference in Mombasa and blamed Beijing for pressuring Kenya to take this action.  Kenya defended its decision by stating that it recognizes only one China.