The East Asia Forum published on 30 May 2025 an article titled "Africanising Chinese Surveillance Technology" by Bulelani Jili, Georgetown University.
African states accepting Chinese loans and subsidies for surveillance technology often fail to implement regulatory frameworks that adequately safeguard privacy and data protection. Authoritarian African governments use this technology for intrusive and unjustified monitoring.
The New York Times published on 22 March 2025 an article titled "How Elon Musk's DOGE Cuts Leave a Vacuum That China Can Fill" by David E. Sanger.
The Trump administration is moving to shut down a number of government agencies including Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America, which has the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrating. The mouthpiece of the CPC crowed that the Voice of America "has now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag."
The Cyberspace Administration of China published on 3 April 2024 an announcement titled "2024 China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum: Chair's Statement on China-Africa Cooperation on AI."
The China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum was held online in Xiamen, China on 2-3 April 2024. The participants held in depth exchanges on China-Africa cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI).
In 2023, China launched the Global AI Governance Initiative, which is designed to implement its concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and to realize the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.
The Conversation published on 27 February 2024 a commentary titled "Africa Needs China for Its Digital Development--But at What Cost?" by Stephanie Arnold, University of Bologna.
China's involvement by companies such as Huawei and ZTE has been critical in African digital development. While it is often argued that China has been successful because it offers the cheapest technology, the author suggests it is due more to the fact that Chinese contractors are attractive partners because they offer full package solutions that include financing.
The downside is that China seeks to promote Chinese digital standards and norms, including its technological and ideological principles. That includes China's interpretation of human rights, data privacy, and freedom of speech. China's Digital Silk Road seeks to establish a Sino-centric global digital order. Over-reliance on a single infrastructure supplier makes the client more vulnerable and can result in digital authoritarianism. The remedy is to diversify infrastructure supply.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation published in October 2023 a study titled "Navigating Africa's Digital Partnerships in a Context of Global Rivalry" by Folashade Soule.
The study highlights how African governments are choosing their digital partners. Africa's choice of China as its preferred partner for digital infrastructure has more to do with China offering a suitable mix of financial and technological value and the lack of viable Western alternatives, than geopolitics.
Reuters published on 24 May 2023 an article titled "Exclusive: Chinese Hackers Attacked Kenyan Government as Debt Strains Grew" by Aaron Ross, James Parson, and Christopher Bing.
Drawing on three sources, Reuters reported that Chinese hackers targeted Kenya's government in a widespread, years-long series of digital intrusions against key ministries and state institutions. Chinese government officials called the accusations "baseless."
Kenya's Ministry of Interior and National Administration issued a statement on 25 May that said the report should be "viewed as sponsored propaganda."
Foreign Policy published on 10 March 2023 an article titled "The Next Superpower Battlefield Could Be Under the Sea in Africa" by Joseph B. Keller, Brookings Institution.
The accelerated construction of submarine cables in African waters gives significant leverage to China while creating a security vulnerability due to the risk of Russian espionage. Chinese construction has become an important pillar of Beijing's foreign policy agenda. Russia's military and naval capabilities have the capacity to tap into the cables for espionage purposes. Western countries need to be alert to the implications of African submarine cable proliferation going forward.
The Voice of America published on 11 March 2023 an article titled "China's 'Digital Silk Road' in Africa Raises Questions" by Kate Bartlett.
The article discusses US concerns with China's Digital Silk Road in Africa, suggesting that some of the technology may be abused and used for illicit surveillance purposes.
The Diplomat published on 3 December 2022 a paper titled "China's Emerging Subsurface Presence in the Indian Ocean" by Prakash Panneerselvam, India's National Institute of Advanced Studies.
The author notes that the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean has been growing steadily since 2009. China's naval base in Djibouti, which opened in 2017, and the increasing presence of PLAN ships, submarines, and research vessels in the Indian Ocean is a call for greater concern in New Delhi. It not only challenges India's sphere of influence in the region but also raises the risk of security threats when Chinese vessels operate close to India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
The East African published on 3 December 2022 an in-depth article titled "Across East Africa, Big Brother Is Watching Your Every Move."
China's Huawei and Israel's Pegasus supply surveillance equipment that now covers much of Africa. There are growing concerns, however, that these projects, which combine video-surveillance, internet monitoring, and mobile phone meta-data collection, are giving the government the ability, not just to go after criminals, but to illegally spy on and monitor political opponents, activists, and journalists.
Access Partnership posted on 23 June 2022 a commentary titled "The State of Cybersecurity in Africa: The Chinese Effect" by Ethan Mudavanhu and Daniel Batty.
Sino-Africa cybersecurity cooperation has emerged as a key component of China's new strategic alliance with Africa. Chinese companies, especially Huawei, have been investing heavily in Africa.
Rest of the World published on 1 December 2021 a commentary titled "The Real Reason China Is Pushing 'Digital Sovereignty' in Africa" by Yinka Adegoke.
This commentary looks at the deepening tech-telecoms relationship between China and nearly every African country and what it portends for the future of the continent. It concludes that China wants to use IT expansion in Africa as part of its effort to establish next generation technology standards.
The Daily Maverick published on 22 August 2021 a commentary titled "Russia's Efforts to Promote Cyber Norms that Serve Its Interests Gain Traction in Africa" by Cayley Clifford.
Moscow's preference for state cyber sovereignty that gives countries regulatory freedom to stifle political opposition or citizen dissent is gaining support among African countries.
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on 28 July 2021 on US Trade and Investment in Africa. Testimony by Aubrey Hruby, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, contained a section beginning on page 7 titled "How US Investment in 5G and Telecoms Can Help Bridge the Digital Divide on the Continent."
This section of testimony summarizes China's digital engagement in Africa and suggests ways that US companies can still compete in an area where Chinese companies have the lead.
Amsterdam University Press published in 2021 an open access book containing a chapter titled "Exploring the Political, Economic, and Social Implications of the Digital Silk Road into East Africa: The Case of Ethiopia" by Sanne van der Lugt, Leiden Asia Centre and Clingendael Institute. Just agree to terms to access.
The chapter analyses the causal relations through which Ethiopian and Chinese actors interact in the context of China's Digital Silk Road initiative. It identifies the actors involved and investigates their motives and levels of influence.
