Reuters published on 19 March 2026 an article titled "Beijing Tells Chinese Firms to Strengthen Zimbabwe Risk Prevention after Mineral Export Ban."
The Chinese embassy in Harare warned Chinese mining companies to uphold local laws and regulations after Zimbabwe suspended exports of raw minerals and lithium concentrate.
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.
The Conversation published on 10 March 2026 a commentary titled "China in Africa: Investment and Trade Work Well When There's Strong Oversight, and Badly When There Isn't" by Vincent Tawiah, Dublin City University.
The author concludes that Chinese investment, loans, and trade in Africa offer substantial economic opportunity, but they can also lead to the rapid depletion of vital energy and forestry resources, undermining long-term development goals if institutional guardrails are weak.
Discovery Alert posted on 1 March 2026 an analysis titled "China Becomes World's Leading Chrome Processor Overtaking South Africa" by Muflih Hidayat.
Ferrochrome production, which is essential for stainless steel, requires consistent, energy-intensive processing. Although South Africa is the source of much of the world's chrome ore, China's coal-based power generation is more reliable and cheaper than South Africa's electricity. Consequently, processing of the ore has shifted from South Africa to China.
The South African Institute of International Affairs published in January 2026 a paper titled "Examining Integrated Chinese Mining-Energy Investments in Zimbabwe" by Yaseen Tayob and Adrian Joseph.
The paper assesses Chinese investments in Zimbabwe's mining and energy sectors and shows that they provide identifiable economic value to the Zimbabwean economy, particularly in the country's lithium mining sector.
Nigeria's Newstimes published on 8 February 2026 an article titled "FG Issues Deadlines to Chinese Road Contractors."
The government of Nigeria warned China Harbour Engineering Company and its sister firm, China Harbour Engineering and Maintenance Company, that it has received complaints of substandard work, slow mobilization, and environmental hazards on key road projects across the country. The government called on the Chinese companies to take remedial measures, adding it would no longer tolerate poor execution, undue delays, or disregard for contractual standards.
Mizzima, a non-profit foundation that supports social change and development in Myanmar, published on 28 January 2026 a commentary titled "Weaponising the Trawl: China's Maritime Militia, Distant-Water Fishing, and the Strategic Contest in the Indian Ocean."
Chinese fishing fleets maintain a massive presence in the Indian Ocean region. What appears on the surface as fishing is, in practice, a grey-zone strategy, blending economic exploitation, intelligence gathering, and coercive presence to reshape the maritime realities without triggering open conflict.
In addition, see Sweekriti Pathak's "Fishing and Force: China's Dark Fleets and Maritime Militias" dated 29 January 2026 published by India's Observer Research Foundation.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 9 December 2025 a paper titled "China's Critical Minerals Strategy in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.
China controls over half of global critical minerals production and an estimated 87 percent of its processing and refining capacity. It also produces nearly 70 percent of rare earth minerals.
China's strategy for dominance in critical minerals includes a tolerance for high-risk projects, generous government support to Chinese companies, diversified access to minerals, financial support of African infrastructure linked to mineral extraction, financing the development of African mineral projects, and strategic stockpiling of critical minerals in China.
The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in December 2025 a study titled "Building Resilient Cities: Environmental Protection and Construction Safety in Somalia's Urban Development" by Abdullahi Ali Mohamed.
The study highlights how unregulated construction, environmental degradation and intensifying climate shocks are reinforcing urban fragility amid weak institutional capacity. It outlines an integrated policy framework focused on sustainable urban planning, professionalizing the construction sector, and strengthening climate resilience.
The BBC posted on 2 December 2025 an article titled "Devastating Toxic Spill Seen as Test of Whether African Countries Will Stand Up to China" by Mayeni Jones.
The collapse in Zambia of a tailings dam for a Chinese copper mining company resulted in a toxic mess for the local population. It is now up to the Zambian government to hold the company fully responsible. This has become a test of how hard Zambia is willing to pressure a company whose government holds $5 billion of its debt.
Foreign Policy published on 4 December 2025 an article titled "Africa Was the Biggest Loser of China's COP30 Triumph" by Nathaniel Mong'are, speaker of Kenya's Young Parliamentarian Association.
Beijing, in the absence of the United States and wavering of the European Union, asserted leadership at the COP30 summit in Brazil, preserving the status quo for Big Oil, petrostates, and the world's largest emitters. While China, which produces a third of the world's emissions, was the summit's de facto climate champion, it received a positive reputation that it does not deserve. The losers were African countries whose mines and forests are experiencing environmental damage by Chinese extraction companies.
The American Enterprise Institute published on 26 November 2025 a commentary titled "The U.S. Can Outcompete China in Africa" by Liam Karr and Yale Ford.
AEI argues that American companies have a better track record than Chinese companies on issues such as protecting the environment, worker safety, and labor standards. US companies are less likely to make some of the mistakes made recently in Africa by Chinese companies. Consequently, African countries should be attracting more US investment, and US companies should win more construction contracts than Chinese companies.
Comment: In theory, this is a valid argument, but it overlooks financing advantages often offered by Chinese state banks and state-owned companies, a larger on the ground presence in Africa by important sectors such as Chinese construction and IT companies, a willingness by Chinese companies to take higher risks, a greater willingness by Chinese companies to engage in corrupt practices that are all too common in Africa, fewer governmental incentives available to American companies, and just less interest in Africa by American companies. There is no indication this situation will change anytime soon.
The BBC published on 25 November 2025 an article titled "Ethiopian Volcano Eruption Sends Ash to Delhi, Hitting Flight Operations" by Abhishek Dey.
An Ethiopian volcano dormant for several thousand years recently erupted sending an ash column to India, where it interrupted air travel.
The South China Morning Post published on 19 November 2025 an article titled "Railway Deal and a Toxic Spill Likely to Top Agenda as Chinese Premier Visits Zambia" by Jevans Nyabiage.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit Zambia in route to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Key issues on the agenda will likely be new funding for rehabilitating the Tanzania-Zambia railway, the aftereffects of a major toxic spill by a Chinese mining company in Zambia, and terms for Zambia's repayment of debt to Chinese banks.
The Business & Human Rights Resource Center posted on 6 November 2025 an article titled "RDC: Les autorites suspendent les activites de la societe miniere CDM apres une pollution par une fuite d'effluents industriels."
The Democratic Republic of the Congo suspended the operation of Chinese company Congo Dongfang Mining following a serious spill of industrial effluents, polluting several districts in the city of Lubumbashi. The company had no control system and no emergency plan to deal with such a problem
Mining.com posted on 3 November 2025 an article titled "China's Massive African Mine Threatens to Upend Iron Ore Market" by Thomas Biesheuval and William Cloves.
Simandou mine in Guinea is the world's largest untapped iron ore deposit with estimated reserves of 3 billion tons. Its iron content is among the world's highest, and its development could impact the global market. Chinese firms own most of the project. China will be in a strong position to influence iron ore prices once production advances further.
The Wall Street Journal published on 27 October 2025 an article titled "China Pushes to Silence Victims of African Mining Disaster" by Nicholas Bariyo and Stanfrance Zulu.
The collapse in Zambia early this year of a toxic waste pool at a Chinese copper mine inundated homes and fields downstream and polluted a major river. Zambian authorities say it will take at least 3 years before the fields can be used to grow crops.
The Chinese company responsible for the spill is experiencing severe criticism for its handling of the disaster, the amount of compensation offered affected farmers, and an effort to silence any criticism of the company.
The Zimbabwe Mail published on 11 October 2025 an article titled "Mutoko Mine Killing Deepens Anger Over Chinese Abuses in Zimbabwe."
Zimbabwean authorities arrested a Chinese national for fatally shooting a Zimbabwean worker at a Chinese mining operation. Chinese managers accused the Zimbabwean of taking part in a robbery. Local villagers disputed the charge and claimed the mining company is exploiting workers and using violence with impunity.
New Zimbabwe published on 14 October 2025 an article titled "China Urges Its Citizens to Adhere to Zimbabwe's Investment Laws after Fatal Mine Shooting."
Following the shooting incident, the Chinese embassy in Harare issued guidance to its nationals to strictly follow all Zimbabwe laws.
The Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame published in October 2025 a paper titled "Chinese Fishing in West Africa: Responding to the Environmental and Social Impacts" by Ebimboere Seiyafa et al.
The paper examines the ecological and social risks posed by Chinese fishing in West Africa and offers policy recommendations to strengthen legal protection and enhance regional cooperation to safeguard the region's fisheries and water systems.
The Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame published in October 2025 a paper titled "Chinese Demand for Timber and Wildlife in West Africa: Responding to the Environmental and Social Impacts" by various authors.
China's demand for timber and illegal wildlife products contributes significantly to deforestation and biodiversity loss in West Africa. This paper recommends ways to strengthen enforcement and promote accountability to address environmental and social impacts of Chinese demand for timber and wildlife.
