Iran War Drives Africa Toward Renewable Energy and China Model

 Foreign Affairs published on 27 July 2026 an article titled "Can Renewables Industrialize Africa? The Iran War Is Driving the Continent Toward Chinese-Backed Green Energy" by Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, a climate think tank in Kenya.

The war on Iran is accelerating a determination among African countries to reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels and to turn toward renewable power.  As a result, African countries are now leaning toward the model advanced by China, in which abundant, low-cost electricity from renewables underpins industrialization and economic growth.

In the meantime, the United States is ceding a role in Africa's clean energy transition to China and risks losing diplomatic influence on the continent.  Washington has not grasped Africa's new energy reality. 

The Sino-Moroccan Rapprochement

 The Torino World Affairs Institute published in 2026 a study titled "The Sino-Moroccan Rapprochement: An Analysis of Geoeconomic Convergence, Diplomatic Calibration and Media Narratives in a Changing Maghreb" by Bianca Pasquier and Imane Ezzehouany, edited by Amanda Chen and Leonardo Bruni.  

The study concludes that by deepening its engagement with China, Morocco is reengineering its agency and room for maneuver while maintaining its traditional ties with the United States and Europe.  China's economic presence in the Kingdom, albeit still limited compared to European and Gulf partners in overall investment terms, has rapidly expanded in industrial sectors critical for the green transition and the restructuring of global value chains.  

China's Transsion Adds Electric Motorcycles to Its Smartphone Dominance in Africa

 Launch Base Africa published on 22 June 2026 an article titled "NewTrails Capital, Backed by Africa's Leading Smartphone Manufacturer, Invests $55M in EV Startup Spiro."

China's Transsion Holdings, Africa's biggest smartphone seller, currently commands nearly half of the continent's market.  Through its stake in a Chinese growth-stage fund called NewTrails Capital, Transsion is investing $55 million in Spiro, Africa's largest electric vehicle and battery-swapping company.  For Spiro, the relationship opens doors to Chinese suppliers that could be decisive as it scales.  

Is Chinese Manufacturing in Morocco a Platform to Avoid US and EU Tariffs?

 The ChinaMed Project published on 12 June 2026 an analysis titled "China's Industrial Footprint in Morocco: The Case of Tanger Tech" by Imane Ezzehouany and Amanda Chen.

As Chinese manufacturers expand their presence in Morocco, concern is mounting in Europe and the United States that the Kingdom may become an "industrial platform" for China to circumvent US and EU trade restrictions.

Tanger Tech City is an emerging Chinese platform for green manufacturing driven by a convergence of interests between China and Morocco.  

China Leads Electric Vehicle Sales in Africa

 IntelliNews posted on 3 June 2026 an article titled "China's BYD Captures 35% of Africa's EV Market, as Latecomer Rival Tesla Bets on Morocco" by Brian Kenety.

Chinese automaker BYD Company Ltd. increased its African market share for electric vehicles (EVs) to 35 percent in 2025, up from 4 percent two years ago.  Tesla is trying to break into the African market by focusing on Morocco.

South Africa and China Expand Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence Education

 Devdiscourse, a media platform for development stakeholders, posted on 13 May 2026 an article titled "SA and China Deepen Partnership in AI Education, Technical Skills and Student Mobility."

South Africa and China have agreed to expand significantly cooperation in digital education, artificial intelligence (AI), vocational training, and student mobility following discussions in Hangzhou.  This is part of a broader effort to align education systems with industrial transformation, technological innovation, and future workforce demands.

China, Africa, and Cobalt

 Delaware-incorporated Farmonaut posted on 7 March 2026 a promotional piece titled "Cobalt Shares: China, Africa and the Global 2026 Refining Share."

In 2026, China will control over 75 percent of global cobalt refining capacity, although it mines less than 2 percent domestically.  Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, supplies more than 70 percent of the world's cobalt, but refines less than 5 percent of its own product.  This promotion looks especially at the use of cobalt in the agricultural and forestry sectors.  

Zimbabwe's Lithium Runs Through China

 Semafor published on 13 March 2026 an article titled "Zimbabwe's Lithium Upgrade Still Runs Through China" by Ray Mwayera.

Zimbabwe produced almost 10 percent of global mined lithium last year and provided about 15 percent of processed lithium in China.  Harare banned exports of raw lithium ore in 2022 and plans to prohibit exports of lithium concentrates by 2027, forcing companies to invest in local processing.  The companies building the lithium infrastructure in Zimbabwe are overwhelmingly Chinese.  This raises the question whether Zimbabwe is building an independent refining sector or simply deepening its role inside China's battery ecosystem.  

China's BYD to Open Charging Stations in South Africa

 BusinessTech published on 16 October 2025 an article titled "China's Largest Car Company Unveils Big Plans for South Africa" by Luke Fraser.

China's BYD, he world's largest maker of new energy vehicles, plans to open hundreds of charging stations in South Africa.  It is also looking to expand its solar coverage across the country.  

China-US Competition for Africa's Critical Minerals

 The Conversation published on 12 October 2025 a commentary titled "China and the US Are in a Race for Critical Minerals.  African Countries Need to Make the Rules" by James Boafo, Rochelle Spencer, and Senyo Dotsey.

Africa holds about 30 percent of the world's critical minerals sought by the United States and China.  The analysis urges African countries to determine for themselves how to benefit from this global competition.  

Morocco Attracts Chinese Investment While Remaining Close to United States

 The New Arab published on 18 September 2025 an article titled "China Bets on Morocco to Lead Africa's Electric Energy Future" by Basma El Atti.

Morocco has been able to attract increasing amounts of Chinese investment, most recently a giant battery factory, while remaining a non-NATO ally of the United States.

China Finances Huge Moroccan Battery Factory

 Msn.com posted on 16 September 2025 an article titled "Morocco Emerges as Africa's First Host of a Battery Gigafactory in $5.6 Billion China-backed Deal."

China is financing a facility in Morocco for producing essential components for electric vehicle batteries.  About 85 percent of the batteries will be exported to the European Union.  

China Increases Manufacturing in Morocco to Take Advantage of Free Trade Agreements

 The New York Times published on 7 May 2025 an article titled "Why China Is Investing So Much Money in Moroccan Factories" by Patricia Cohen. 

China has been investing in a major way in the electric vehicle and battery production sector in Morocco.  The reason is simple.  Morocco has a free trade agreement with the EU, and this is a way to avoid high tariffs.  Morocco also has a free trade agreement with the United States, but the Trump administration has just placed a 10 percent tariff on goods from Morocco.  Nevertheless, this is a lower tariff than will likely be the case with most countries.  

China and US Compete for Africa's Critical Minerals

 The Stimson Center published on 28 February 2025 an analysis titled "Competing for Africa's Resources: How the US and China Invest in Critical Minerals" by Sydney Tucker.

China's approach to Africa's critical minerals is characterized by state-backed investments and a focus on securing long-term access to resources.  The US prioritizes private sector involvement and supply chain diversification to reduce reliance on China while pursuing clean energy, national security, and economic goals.  

Morocco Becomes Hub for Chinese Investment

 Morocco World News published on 14 February 2025 an article titled "Ambassador: Morocco Becoming Strategic Hub for Chinese Investment" by Adil Faouzi.

Taking advantage of Morocco's proximity to Europe and favorable trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, the country is becoming a major investment center for Chinese companies.  

Chinese Companies Win Contract to Build $2 Billion Railway between Burundi and Tanzania

 The Global Business Council published on 30 January 2025 an article titled "Tanzania and Burundi Award $2B Contract to Chinese Firms to Design and Build Regional Rail."

China Engineering Construction Group and China Railway Design and Consulting Group won the $2.15 billion contract to design and build the 282-kilometer-long railway between Uvinza in Tanzania and a nickel mine between Musongati and Gitenga in Burundi.  The railway will connect to an existing line in Tanzania that continues to the port of Dar es Salaam.  The African Development Bank is financing the project. Nickel is a critical mineral in the manufacture of electric vehicles.  

Morocco Pursues Warm Ties with China While Maintaining Them with US

 The ChinaMed Project published on 28 January 2025 a commentary titled "Moroccan Media on Xi Jinping's Visit and Increasing Cooperation with China" by Mariateresa Natuzzi.  

The Moroccan press frames Rabat's relations with China as a strategy of foreign policy diversification rather than alignment with Beijing--especially as Morocco braces for the second Trump administration in Washington.  

Succeeding with Chinese Car Sales in Africa

 The China Global South Project (CGSP) published on 12 December 2024 a Q & A titled "What It's Going to Take for Chinese Car Brands to Succeed in Africa" with CGSP China editor Han Zhen and Jimmy Ho, co-founder of Guangzhou-based automotive export service Autoworld.  

Selling cars in Africa isn't easy given the small regional market and its enormous diversity.  Car buyers in Ghana, for example, are very different from those in South Africa, Morocco, and Mozambique.  Beyond consumer preferences, there are challenges ranging from different countries' import regulations, building sales/service networks, and sustaining a workforce that can promote the kind of long-term support for an auto brand to thrive in some of the world's most unpredictable markets.  African consumers often value durability and practicality over other features.

China's Relations with North African Countries

 The South China Morning Post published on 29 November 2024 an article titled "What Xi's Flying Visit to Morocco Means for China's EV Industry" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

As China ramps up its commercial ties with Morocco, especially electric vehicle manufacturing, it is also working to improve relations with increasingly authoritarian Tunisia and retain close ties with Algeria.  If China becomes too close to Morocco, disagreement with Algeria over the Western Sahara could pose a challenge for Beijing's relations with Algiers.  

China Expands Engagement in Morocco

 Al-Monitor published on 20 October 2024 an article titled "What's Behind China's Deepening Engagement with Morocco?" by Sabena Siddiqui.

Chinese companies are winning contracts to expand Morocco's high speed rail system and signed a $6.4 billion memorandum of understanding to construct an EV battery "gigafactory" near Rabat.  There is growing Chinese investment in Morocco's ICT sector.  In 2022, China became Morocco's third largest trading partner.