Zambia's Reasons for Cancelling Major Human Rights Summit

 Just Security published on 2 June 2026 a commentary titled "In Addition to Chinese Pressure, a Backsliding Democracy May Explain Zambia's Decision to Cancel a Major Human Rights Summit" by Jane Munga and Steve Feldstein.

Days before 2,600 human rights defenders, technologists, and policymakers were expected in Lusaka, Zambia, on April 30, the Zambian government called off RightsCon, the world's largest conference on digital rights.  

According to the summit organizers, the cancellation was due to foreign interference from China "because Taiwanese civil society participants were planning to join us in person."  But a closer look reveals a more complicated picture linked to Zambia's democratic decline and more repressive policies.  

Effectiveness of China's Loans to Africa

 Peking University published in October 2023 a report titled "A Study on the Effectiveness of China's Sovereign Financing in Africa."

From 2000 to 2020, China provided $160 billion in loans for 1116 projects in 49 African countries.  Based on a study of select projects from this list, Peking University concluded that China's loans have a generally positive impact on the economic growth of African nations, and improve the livelihood of the African people.  The loans have had a significant impact on education and improved the hard infrastructure of education facilities and the literacy rate.  The study also shows that loans generate a positive impact on manufacturing job creation, infrastructure development, and globalization.  However, the results indicate a negative impact on agricultural  job creation, which could be explained as the result of moving people from agriculture to industries.

The authors noted that the study was limited by the reliability of the data and discrepancy in the accuracy, time dimension, and the statistical caliber of loan data collected among institutions.

China-Africa Digital Trade Services in Hunan Province

 Maritime Gateway published on 13 February 2023 an article titled "China-Africa Digital Trade Services in Hunan."

The trade digitalization service established in Hunan Province mainly serves Chinese companies to support trade with Africa.  It can also provide services such as website construction in local languages to help high quality economic and trade development between China and Africa.  The base is expected to contribute to China-Africa economic and trade development.  

Ethiopia and Rwanda Are Hubs for Jack Ma's Electronic Global Platform

The blog for the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London posted on 2 July 2020 an article titled "COVID-19 Pushes Forward Jack Ma's Plans for a World Trade Revolution" by Lauren A. Johnston.

COVID-19 has encouraged Jack Ma, founder of China's e-commerce company Alibaba, to push forward with his electronic global platform.  In Africa, Ethiopia and Rwanda are hubs for this project. 

Digital Sources on Sudan

For those of you interested in Sudan and South Sudan, I recommend the Sudan Open Archive, which provides a lengthy list of internet resources that focus on Sudan. Click here to access the digital reference list.

I also call to your attention Banaa.org, a website for a small scholarship program organized by students at George Washington University for students from Sudan. I have been affiliated with this program since its origin.