Seychelles More Positive on India and China than US

 Afrobarometer posted on 1 June 2026 a news release titled "Majority of Seychellois Welcome the Influence of India and China, Favour Neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine War."

Favorable perceptions of China's influence on Seychelles have increased significantly in recent years while those of the United States have fallen.  An overwhelming majority of Seychellois favor neutrality on Russia's war against Ukraine but more have a negative than positive perception of Russia's influence on Seychelles.  

China Takes Lead in African Digital Development

 South Africa's The Star published on 21 December 2025 an article titled "Empowering Africa: How China's Tech Cooperation Fuels Progress" by Gideon Chitanga.

The article argues that Chinese government and companies have become critical partners in the development of Africa's digital systems and information and communications technology.  For example, Huawei has constructed an estimated 70 percent of Africa's 4-G networks.

An Analysis of Russia-Africa Ties and Role of US

 Riddle published on 18 December 2025 an analysis titled "Russia-Africa Ties Catch Global Tailwinds in 2025" by Ivan U. Klyszcz, research fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security, a think tank in the Nordic and Baltic space.  

Russia and Egypt are cohosting this week the 2nd Russia-Africa ministerial conference, which is setting the agenda for the 2026 Russia-Africa summit.  The focus is on expanding trade with Africa, which is currently smaller than Ukraine's trade with the continent.  Russian investment barely registers, and Moscow has fallen from the number one arms supplier to number two.

On the other hand, Russia's covert and security ties with Africa remain robust.  Moscow now has 22 "Russia House" branches in Africa, opened two new embassies in 2025, and has plans for five more.  The author adds that "with the US abandoning its leadership role, Moscow--working in tandem with Beijing--gains more space to offer governments worldwide an alternative to the US-led, post-Cold War order."  In addition, President Trump "has expressed open contempt (if not hatred) toward the continent."

Zambian Perceptions of China, US, and Russia

 Afrobarometer published on 29 September 2025 a survey titled "Zambians Support Open Trade, Greater African Voice in International Affairs" by Edward Chibwill. 

A broader survey of Zambian public opinion includes an assessment of perceptions of China, the United States, and Russia.  Zambians expressed a 51 percent positive view of China's economic and political influence in the country versus an 8 percent negative view.  The ranking for the United States was 45 percent positive and 9 percent negative and for Russia 19 percent positive and 15 percent negative.  The remaining percentages were neutral.  

The percentage of Zambians who viewed China's influence on Zambia as positive in 2014 was 72 percent.  It declined to 61 percent in 2020 and 42 percent in 2022 before rising to 51 percent in 2024. 

Will Tanzania's Investment Center in China Attract More from Africa?

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published in August 2025 a study titled "Tanzania and China: China-Africa Policy Signals, Substance and Suggestions" by Lauren Johnston.  

In December 2024, Tanzania established an Investment Centre in China's Hunan province.  Tanzania is the first African country to open such a center in Hunan.  This development may encourage other African countries to follow Tanzania's example.  

Senate Testimony of US Africom Commander

 General Michael E. Langley, Commander of the U.S. Africa Command, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services on 7 March 2024.  

General Langley covered the continent but singled out the situation in Somalia, the Red Sea crisis, and Libya.  He was critical of Russian disinformation, the "predatory tactics" of Chinese and Russian companies and acknowledged that the United States seeks "to out-compete the PRC in the security cooperation arena."  

What Putin's War Means for Nigeria

 Nigeria's The Cable published on 9 March 2022 a commentary titled "Russia-Ukraine Conflict: What It Means for Africa and Nigeria" by Samuel Agbelusi, freelance journalist in Nigeria.

The author argues that African leaders have no interest in returning to a Cold War environment but "given the outright invasion of Ukraine and the violation of international law, the key question now is how African governments will maintain their relationship with their diverse set of external partners and with one another as the geopolitical context dramatically shifts."

What Does the War in Ukraine Mean for Africa?

 Brookings published on 25 February 2022 an analysis titled "What Does the War in Ukraine Mean for Africa?" by Danielle Resnick.

African exporters of natural gas and a few key minerals such as palladium may benefit from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  On the other hand, many countries will experience higher energy and fertilizer prices.  Several African countries depend heavily on imports of Russian and Ukranian wheat, which may experience higher prices or even disruption.  The key question now is how African governments will maintain relationships with their partners in the West, China, and Russia--and with one another--as the geopolitical context dramatically shifts.  

China's Debt Deals with Southern Africa

 Chatham House published on 10 December 2020 an analysis titled "China's Southern Africa Debt Deals Reveal a Wider Plan" by Alex Vines.  

The COVID-19 crisis has shown why the current international debt architecture must be restructured. China is responding to debt problems in southern Africa country-by-country.

Russia Playing Catchup in Africa

Modern Diplomacy published on 23 September 2019 an interview titled "African Great Game: Russia Playing the Catchup" with George Nyongesa, senior associate at the Africa Policy Institute in Nairobi, Kenya.

Nyongesa underscores Russia's limited engagement in Africa since the end of the Cold War, especially as compared to China, the United States, France, European Union, India, and Japan.

China-Mozambique Relations

Macro Polo published on 27 August 2019 a report titled "Bridging Perceptions: China in Mozambique" by Lauren Baker, summer associate at Macro Polo.


The Mozambican government has a symbiotic relationship with China. It actively encourages Chinese projects and enjoys the diplomatic spotlight that Beijing gives the country. Non-government elites in Mozambique are, however, more skeptical. Beijing's high-level ties to the notoriously corrupt Mozambican government lead the non-government elites to assume that a capitalist conspiracy or backroom deals are the norm.

Russia To Help Angola Manufacture Military Equipment

In Depth News posted on 7 April 2019 a story titled "Angola Plans Manufacturing Russian Military Equipment" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.

Russia has reportedly agreed to help Angola develop a local manufacturing capability for certain military equipment. Russia has been the principal supplier of military equipment to Angola since it began supporting the MPLA in the 1960s.

Ethiopia: Grand Renaissance Dam

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) published in February 2016 a report titled "Energy Dialogues in Africa: Is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Transforming Ethiopia's Regional Role?" by Agathe Maupin, visiting senior research fellow at SAIIA.

The paper identifies challenges to energy cooperation between Ethiopia and countries in the region.  It argues that Ethiopia's ownership of the GERD, the recent trade agreement between SADC, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the East African Community, and growing interest in regional power pooling have created a timely opportunity for greater energy cooperation.  This cooperation will be sustained by an increase in power supply in the region and the shifting national perspectives on regional projects.

Egypt Reaches Out to Africa

This Is Africa published on 30 March 2015 a commentary titled "New Energy, Historic Relationships: Why Egypt Is Strengthening Its African Ties" by Karim Sadek, managing director of an African investment firm on the Cairo Stock Exchange.

The author argues that the recent Egyptian Economic Development Conference at Sharm el Sheikh shows that Egypt understands the urgency of accelerating engagement with sub-Saharan Africa.  He cites expanding ties with Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. 

South Africa Pushes China to Support Regional Integration

The Institute for Security Studies in South Africa published on 18 December 2014 a commentary titled "SA Tries to Change China's Relations with Pretoria and Africa" by Peter Fabricius, foreign editor of Independent Newspapers.

While questioning whether South Africa will benefit equally from its current bilateral relationship with China, Fabricius argues that Jacob Zuma is encouraging China to build fewer national stadiums and more highways and bridges connecting African countries in an effort to enhance African regional integration.

China's Engagement with African Regional Economic Communities

The Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University published in September 2014 a summary titled "African Regional Communities' Engagement with China" by Daouda Cisse, Ross Anthony, Meryl Burgess, and Harrie Esterhuyse. 

The policy brief argued that the engagement has the potential to offer significant benefits to African countries by way of transnational free trade regions, single customs unions, single markets, single currencies, and other forms of political and economic integration that may strengthen both inter-regional and international trade as well as creating more robust solutions to issues of food, climate, health, and political security.  At the same time, implementation has proved a formidable challenge.

Africa Needs to Rethink Piracy Challenge

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa published on 10 March 2014 a piece titled "Fewer Pirates, Different Risks: Africa Needs to Rethink Its Approach to Maritime Security" by Timothy Walker, researcher at ISS.

There has been a sharp decline in piracy in waters off Africa.  The author argues that the Djibouti Code of Conduct is a laudable starting point upon which to build future maritime security capacity in Africa.  But African maritime stakeholders now need to implement the 2050 African Integrated Maritime Strategy, which was adopted by the African Union early this year, as well as become involved in creating and implementing national and regional integrated maritime strategies.  

Regional Integration in East Africa and the Horn

The Washington-based Institute for Defense Analysis published on 12 September 2013 a brief summary of the state of regional integration in East Africa and the Horn.  Written by George Ward, it is titled "East African Regional Integration--No Easy Task."  Of the 11 countries reviewed, all but South Sudan are members of at least 2 African regional organizations. 

China and African Regional Organizations

The Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University published on 25 June 2013 a commentary by Karina Legradi, research intern, titled "Regional African Organisations as Negotiation Partners with China."  It notes the growing importance of organizations such as the African Union, Southern Africa Development Community, Economic Community of West African States and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The author concludes that if African regional organizations could utilize their collective bargaining power more effectively, negotiations with China would be more beneficial for African states.  If African states spoke with a unified voice in regional organizations, then there would be a more level playing field with China.

China-African Relations: An African View

The Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA) published on 3 October 2012 an analysis of the China-Africa relationship by Claude Kabemba. The author emphasized that the central challenge for African governments is to ensure that interaction with China is mutually beneficial.

OSISA was established in 1997 by George Soros to promote the institutions and practices of open society and the creation of vibrant and tolerant democracies.

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