Do China's Digitally Connected Products Pose Security Issues in Africa?

The China-Africa Security Radar published on 17 May 2026 a commentary titled "Chinese Clean Tech Is Raising Alarm Bells in the West--Should Africa Be Worried Too?" 

Western governments are raising concerns about the impact of Chinese-supplied digitally connected electric vehicles and solar power inverters connected to the internet.  They have the potential to harvest large amounts of geospatial and personal data.

The United States and certain European countries are banning some of this Chinese equipment.  China counters that these are excuses to protect less competitive Western products.  These Chinese products are being woven even more deeply into African markets and raise questions about data protection.  

Podcast on Prospects for Peace in South Sudan

The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington held on 9 April 2014 a discussion on the prospects for peace in South Sudan.  The participants were Awan Guol Riak, Minister for the Presidency, Government of South Sudan; Jon Temin, Africa Programs, US Institute for Peace; and Zach Vertin, Senior Adviser, Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, US Department of State.  The one and one-half hour podcast is available online. 

China, Africa and Me in English and Chinese

China-South Dialogue, a China-based website operated by a Chinese journalist, invited me to comment on China-US diplomatic contact during my diplomatic career from 1964 to 2000.  Most of this time was during the Cold War when there was little or no contact, at least in Africa, between Chinese and American diplomats.  This situation began to change by the late 1980s.  This short piece of oral history titled "Africa, China and Me" is an effort to show how this relationship evolved over the years.  China-South Dialogue translated my contribution so that it is also available in Chinese.  

Sudan's Tortured Peace Process

The Enough Project published on 1 April 2014 a commentary titled "Sudan's Tortured Peace Process" by Omer Ismail and Akshaya Kumar.  They argue the current effort that continues to support fragmented negotiations for each of Sudan's regional conflicts is counterproductive.  What is needed is a holistic approach

Ethiopia, the United States and Opening Political Space

The Ethiopian English-language newspaper Capital published on 17 March 2014 a commentary titled "Testing the Waters Washington Presses Ethiopia for Political Reform," by Kirubel Tadesse.  The article focuses on the most recent State Department human rights report on Ethiopia and reaction to it by the Ethiopian government and others, myself included. 

Time to Bring Eritrea in from the Cold (Part IV)

African Arguments carried a fourth commentary on 17 January 2014 titled "Bringing Eritrea in from the Cold: We Need to Un-break the US-Ethiopia-Eritrea Triangle."  The author, Awet T. Weldemichael, an Eritrean-American who teaches history at the University of Kentucky, was one of my students at UCLA during the 1999-2000 academic year. 

Time to Bring Eritrea in from the Cold (Part III)

Princeton Lyman, most recently President Obama's Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, has added his voice on African Arguments to the issue of bringing Eritrea in from the cold.  His commentary posted on 14 January 2014 is titled "Previous Attempts to 'Bring Eritrea in from the Cold' Have Proved Difficult, But We Should Still Try." 

Time to Bring Eritrea in from the Cold (Part II)

The UK-based African Arguments published on 13 January 2014 my commentary titled "Time to Bring Eritrea in from the Cold (But It's Harder than It Sounds)."  This is follow-on to the commentary by former assistant secretary of state Hank Cohen published by African Arguments on 16 December 2013 and carried below.  I agree with Cohen's goal of normalizing relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia, but recent history between the two countries makes it more difficult than it might appear.  As for an improvement in relations between Eritrea and the United States, this depends as much on Eritrea as it does on the United States.  

Time to Bring Eritrea in from the Cold

On 16 December 2013 the UK-based African Arguments published a commentary titled "Time to Bring Eritrea in from the Cold" by former U.S. assistant secretary of state Hank Cohen.  His basic argument was a call for normalization of relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia and between Eritrea and the United States. 

USIP Panel Discussion on South Sudan

The US Institute of Peace (USIP) and the Wilson Center held on 10 January 2014 a panel discussion on the crisis in South Sudan with Ambassador Princeton Lyman, former US Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Alan Goulty, former UK Special Envoy and ambassador to Sudan, Kate Almquist Knopf, former USAID assistant administrator for Africa, and Jon Temin, director of the Africa program at USIP. The one and one-half hour program is available by webcast.

USG Policy on South Sudan

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, testified on 9 January 2014 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on South Sudan.  In her opening statement, she set forth U.S. policy towards South Sudan:

• The United States will not countenance the armed overthrow of the democratically elected government.
• Hostilities must stop and violence directed at civilian populations must end; those responsible for perpetrating human rights abuses will be held accountable.
• The crisis will not be solved on the battlefield; resolution will come only through dialogue and inclusive reconciliation.
• All parties must permit immediate and unconditional humanitarian access to all in need.

The assistant secretary offered strong support to the efforts by IGAD, former Ethiopian foreign minister Seyoum Mesfin, and Kenyan General Lazaro Sumbeiywo to find a peaceful solution through political dialogue. She urged that the South Sudan government release the political prisoners being held in Juba. She explained that the United States is exploring the possibility of appropriate pressures against individuals on both sides who interfere with the peace and reconciliation process or are responsible for serious human rights abuses.

The Crisis in South Sudan

The Congressional Research Service published on 27 December 2013 a comprehensive report titled "The Crisis in South Sudan" by Lauren Ploch Blanchard.  The document is especially useful in explaining American assistance to South Sudan. 

Five Views on Preventing Civil War in South Sudan

The New York Times on 7 January 2014 published the views of five persons in a debate titled "Preventing Civil War in South Sudan."

The debaters included:

• Princeton Lyman, former U.S. special envoy to Sudan.
• G. Pascal Zachary, Arizona State University.
• Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World Y.W.C.A.
• Mark Fathi Massoud, University of California, Santa Cruz.
• Eric Reeves, researcher and analyst.

I am astounded that none of the writers mentioned one of the most serious problems facing South Sudan -- CORRUPTION -- although Princeton Lyman alluded to it. Until South Sudanese themselves do something about ending the culture of corruption, which dates back decades, there is not much the rest of the world can do to help end the crisis in South Sudan.

African Construction Trends Report 2013

The private company Deloitte just released its "African Construction Trends Report 2013," which has some surprising conclusions concerning China's engagement in this field.  The report evaluates $222 billion invested in 322 African infrastructure projects that have a project value over $50 million and had broken ground by, but not yet been commissioned at, 1 June 2013.  The top sectors rated by investment value were energy and power, transport, mining, real estate and water, followed by gas and oil.

Based on this size and time-limited sample, the results are surprising in view of all the attention in recent years accorded to China's involvement in African infrastructure.  Europe/US stakeholders funded 15 percent of the projects and Chinese stakeholders funded 10 percent of the projects in the sample.  This still places China as the most important bilateral funding source, but not the overwhelming player that it is often said to be. European/US contractors built 37 percent of the projects and Chinese construction corporations built 12 percent, again a lower percentage than is often portrayed. 

Impact of Westgate Mall Bombing

China Radio International English ran a 25 minute program on 17 October 2013 titled "Terrorism in East Africa."   It dealt primarily with the aftermath of the Westgate Mall bombing in Kenya by the al-Shabaab terrorist group.  Commentary for the program was done by He Wenping, director of African studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and myself. 

US Special Forces Raids in Libya and Somalia

China Central Television interviewed me on 6 October 2013 concerning the 5 October US Navy SEAL raid in the Somali port town of Baraawe and the US Army Delta Force raid in Tripoli, Libya. While the raid in Tripoli was successful, the one in Baraawe did not achieve its objective. Most probably, the difference was due to the quality of intelligence in both situations. Click here to access the five minute CCTV segment, or view it below.

Does Al-Shabaab Pose a Threat on American Soil?

The New York Times published a variety of views on 30 September 2013 titled "Does Al Shabab Pose a Threat on American Soil?" The authors of the commentary are:

• Seth G. Jones, author of "Hunting in the Shadows"
• Bronwyn Bruton, Atlantic Council in Washington
• Ahmed I. Samatar, professor of international studies
• Ken Menkhaus, professor at Davidson College
• Omar Jamal, Friends of Somalia at the UN
• Murithi Mutiga, Kenyan journalist

The US-China "Cold War" in Africa

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Dakar published on 21 August 2013 a piece titled "The US-China 'Cold War' in Africa" by Kyle Benjamin Schneps, junior fellow at ISS Dakar.

While the commentary makes some useful points, the overall thesis is unfortunate. There is commercial competition between the United States and China in Africa just as there is commercial competition between the United States and all other major trading nations.  As the author points out, China and the United States also have a different approach to Africa, but this hardly constitutes a "Cold War."  The author suggests that the purpose of President Obama's recent Power Africa Initiative and Trade Africa Initiative is to counter Chinese influence in Africa.  There are many reasons for these initiatives and "countering Chinese influence" is not very high on the list.

The analysis also contains some factual problems.  It notes that President Xi Jinping and his predecessor have made five tours to Africa in the past decade, while Obama only made his first full tour this year.  While factually correct, this statement compares apples and oranges.  The visits of China's leaders cover a decade and for Obama less than five years.  President George Bush made visits to Africa in 2003 and 2008 while President Obama made a brief, earlier visit to Ghana.

The article mentions U.S drone bases in South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya.  I am unaware of any such bases.  There are U.S. drone operations in Djibouti, Niger, Ethiopia and the Seychelles.  The commentary also notes that the United States severed formal diplomatic ties and aid with Guinea Bissau in April 2012.  Actually, Washington suspended embassy operations in Guinea Bissau in 1998.  

Russia Tries to Increase Investment in Africa

Kester Kenn Klomegah writing for spyghana.com on 14 July 2013, looked at the challenges facing Russian investment in Africa in an article titled "Africa: Russian Investment Needs Credit Support."  He concluded one of the major problems is lack of government credit support, something that China emphasizes. 

China National TV Program on Obama Visit to Africa

China Central TV (CCTV) ran a half hour program on Talk Africa 30 June 2013 concerning President Barack Obama's visit to Africa.  While the moderator in Kenya encouraged comparisons with China's policy in Africa and President Xi Jinping's recent visit to South Africa, Tanzania and Congo Brazzaville, the program was generally balanced.

CCTV asked me to join Prince Mashele, executive director of the Center for Politics and Research in South Africa, for most of the program.