Sudan: A Resource War Fought by Proxy?

The New York Times published on 15 April 2026 a guest essay titled "I have Watched the Catastrophe of My Country Be Reduced to Nothing" by Mohammed Ahmed. 

The author takes issue with those who call what is happening in Sudan a "civil war."  He argues it is "a resource war fought by proxy, playing out against the world's indifference."  About the only thing sustaining Sudan today is communal mobilization or self-help by ordinary Sudanese.  

Chinese Investment in Zambia and Malawi's Cotton Sector and Technology Transfer

The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies published in January 2019 a working paper titled "The Impact of Chinese Investment on Skill Development and Technology Transfer in Zambia and Malawi's Cotton Sector" by Tang Xiaoyang, Tsinghua University.

China-Africa Cotton (CAC) was one of the first Chinese cotton firms to enter the African market. This study compares the different mechanisms that Western companies and CAC have used for technology transfer.

Chinese Investment and Knowledge Transfer in Africa

The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University published on 27 September 2017 a paper titled "Chinese Investment and Knowledge Transfer in Africa."

Drawing on case studies in Madagascar, Kenya, Zambia, and Malawi, the researchers found that knowledge transfer is taking place with Chinese FDI, but it is happening to different extents and in different ways. There is also evidence of increased productivity through technology transfer, particularly in the agriculture sector. The area where progress has been slower is the creation of linkages with local firms.

Chinese Investment in Southern Africa's Cotton Sector

The China-Africa Research Initiative at the School for Advanced International Studies in Washington published in  February 2015 a policy brief titled "Assessing the Impact of Chinese Investment on Southeast Africa's Cotton: Moving up the Value Chain?" by Tang Xiaoyang, Tsinghua University. 

By analyzing the effects of Chinese investment on the cotton sector in southern Africa, the author identifies challenges and opportunities for the future of the textile industry in Africa.  While cheap textile imports from Asia have undermined manufacturing in southern Africa, investment from Asia may provide an opportunity for growth. 

Asian Investment and Africa's Textile Industry

The Center for Global Policy at Carnegie-Tsinghua published on 5 August 2014 a study titled "The Impact of Asian Investment on Africa's Textile Industries" by Tang Xiaoyang, resident scholar at Carnegie-Tsinghua.  The author argues that as African countries seek to industrialize and build indigenous cotton-textile-apparel value chains, the interactions between Asian, primarily Chinese, investors and African companies become more complex.  Asian investors present both a challenge to an opportunity for local industries.

China-Africa Agricultural Co-operation: Static or Evolving?

The Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) at Stellenbosch University published on 28 April 2014 a brief commentary titled "China-Africa Agricultural Co-operation: Static or Evolving?" by Rex Ukaejiofo, visiting scholar at CCS.

The author concluded that China is strongly encouraging agricultural investment in Africa to help Africa feed itself and for a larger global food security strategy.  At the same time, he said the China-Africa agricultural partnership seems to have not maintained the pace that was promised at the FOCAC summits in 2006 and 2009.