China Links Communist Party to China-Africa Cooperation

 Ethiopia's Capital published on 12 July 2026 an op-ed titled "A 105-year Journey of Struggle: The Code of China's Development and a New Chapter in China-Africa Cooperation" by Ambassador Jiang Feng, head of China's mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  

The op-ed begins: "On July 1st, the Communist Party of China (CPC) marked the 105th anniversary of its founding.  For the Chinese people, it is an important occasion to reflect on the nation's journey of struggle and achievement while looking ahead to the bright prospects.  For our African friends who are interested in China's development, it also offers an important opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the key to China's development."  

The op-ed continues to praise the progress made by the CPC and suggests that China's model of development offers lessons for African countries.

Comment:  The Mission of China to the African Union website posted the same op-ed on 7 July.  It is not clear if Capital published the op-ed because it considered the ambassador's remarks newsworthy or there was some other incentive.

China and Russia Agree to Seek New World Order

 The Raisina Hills, an independent digital news platform based in India, published on 20 May 2026 an article titled "Russia-China Challenge Western-led System in Joint Declaration."

The article assesses the joint declaration agreed to by China and Russia released on 20 May during Vladimir Putin's visit with Xi Jinping in Beijing.  The article concludes that "the declaration suggests the Russia-China partnership is evolving beyond tactical cooperation into a broader attempt to shape the ideological architecture of a future world order."

Communist Party of China Deepens Ties with Six Ruling Parties in Southern Africa

 The Respondents posted on 20 May 2026 an article titled "CCM, China's CPC Deepen Ties with Southern African Liberation Parties."

Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi hosted a meeting with the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China and senior leaders from the ruling political parties in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.  The parties launched the Research Centre for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. 

Confucius Institutes and the Spread of Mandarin in Africa

 Global China Pulse published on 24 February 2025 an article titled "Confucius Institutes and the Spread of Mandarin Chinese in Africa" by Simbarashe Gukurume, Sol Plaatje University in South Africa. 

Some 16 African countries have incorporated Mandarin teaching in their national education systems and about 30 universities have established Chinese majors.  Confucius Institutes are important platforms for expanding not only Chinese language and culture, but also the world view, norms, values, and political philosophies of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China.

Exporting the China Model to Africa

 The South China Morning Post published on 18 September 2024 an article titled "How China Is Showing Its Development and Governance Experience" by Jevans Nyabiage.

China has stepped up its efforts to export its governance and development model to countries in Africa.  At the level of African ruling political parties, there is the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology in Zimbabwe, which China refurbished and where it provides training.  An even better example is the CPC-funded Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania for the ruling political parties in Tanzania, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.  

Iran Turns Increasingly Towards Africa

 The US government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published on 23 April 2024 an article titled "Iran Homing in On Africa with Trade Promises, Chaos" by Michael Scollon.

Iran is expanding its influence in Africa, offering arms, partnerships, and chaos.  President Ebrahim Raisi made a three-country tour of Africa last July, the first by an Iranian president to the continent in more than a decade.  Iran just held its second Iran-Africa trade summit in over a year.  Tehran has reestablished relations with several countries in the Horn of Africa. 

China Emphasizes Education for African Military Personnel

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 30 October 2023 an analysis titled "China's 'Military Political Work' and Professional Military Education in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.  

The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) service branches were educating about 2,000 African military officers annually at military and political academies prior to COVID-19.  At least 50 African countries participate regularly in Chinese professional military education (PME).  

African Union officials have repeatedly warned that it is a bad idea to invite military intervention in politics and to socialize militaries to serve the party in power.  Yet, this is the theory behind Chinese PME.  African students enrolled in Chinese military academies are exposed to China's worldviews and ways of doing things, including PLA strategic culture, how the Communist Party operates, and how it interacts with and controls China's armed forces.  

Iranian President's Visit to Africa

 Aljazeera posted on 13 July 2023 an article titled "Iran Signs Agreements with Zimbabwe as Raisi Wraps Up Africa Tour" and a 30 minute video with commentary by Ngala Chome, Sahan Research in Kenya, Ali Akbar Dareini, Center for Strategic Studies in Tehran, and Eric Lob, Florida International University.  

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi just completed a visit to Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, the first Iranian presidential visit to Africa since 2013.  Raisi signed numerous agreements with each country.  The goal of the tour was to revive Iran's relations with African countries and to help mitigate the impact of Western sanctions.

Chinese Military Training for Africa

 The US Institute of Peace published in July 2023 a study titled "Chinese Professional Military Education for Africa: Key Influence and Strategy" by Paul Nantulya.  

The report describes the People's Liberation Army's support for African independence movements during the decolonization period and then examines recent trends in Chinese professional military training (PME), focusing on the training African officers receive in China.  It sketches the larger political context and ideological framework within which Chinese PME functions and explores how China has used the ties its PME has created or strengthened to overcome political differences with African countries and to serve its broader strategic interests.  The report examines the impressions African officers have of Chinese PME and how it compares with what the West offers.  It concludes with key takeaways and policy implications for American policymakers and military educators as they consider what China's PME approach in Africa means in the context of strategic competition with China.

Communist Party of China Political School in Tanzania

 The Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies published on 14 November 2022 a commentary titled "China's First Permanent Political Party School and Africa" by Goktug Caliskan.  

In 2022, the Communist Party of China opened its first political party school in Africa.  Classes focus on how the party is governed and how and in what ways the party leadershp can be strengthened.  

Sympathetic Account of "Xi Jinping Thought" in South Africa

 SABC News published on 14 October 2022 an article titled "New Book on Xi Jinping's Thoughts Through the Eyes of SA" by Abbey Makoe.

The article discusses a new book by the University of South Africa's Paul Tembe titled Xi Jinping's Thoughts Through the Eyes of South Africa.  China's ambassador to South Africa attended the book launch and spoke kindly about it.  

The book looks at Xi Jinping's Thoughts and China's development and then asks what South Africa can learn from China.  Tembe concludes that South Africa can learn upholding of public ownership while allowing various forms of ownership to develop side-by-side to leverage the critical role of the public sector in advancing common prosperity is most important.

China Seeks African Adulation for Xi Jinping

 South Africa's The Globe and Mail published on 12 October 2022 an article titled "African Allies Bolster Chinese President Xi As He Prepares for Third Term" by Geoffrey York and James Griffiths.

China is mobilizing its allies to praise its paramount ruler and deflect his critics.  In South Africa, Chinese officials rounded up an array of politicians in Cape Town to sing the praises of the latest volume of Xi Jinping's  series of books on governance in China and to echo his ideological view of the world.  

Communist Party of China Party School in Tanzania

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 29 August 2022 an analysis titled "Political Training Under the Belt and Road Initiative: A Look at the Chinese Communist Party School in Africa" by Raphael Chan, a freelance researcher in Hong Kong.

The International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) provided $40 million to construct the CPC's first party training facility in Africa.  Established by the six ruling political parties in Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School is located in Tanzania.  Courses at the school emphasize the importance of strong party leadership across all dimensions of society, how the CPC disciplines itself, its approach to global affairs, and the advantages of a socialist system with Chinese characteristics.  

The school in Tanzania may signal the development of additional training facilities in Africa. For example, China is constructing diplomatic academies in Tunisia and Sierra Leone.  

Somalia: Comparing Assistance from Turkey and the UAE

 The Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Air University (Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama) published on 1 June 2022 a study titled "Middle-Power Aid Rivalry in the Horn of Africa: A Comparative Study of Emirati and Turkish Foreign Aid Policy in Somalia" by Fabio van Loon.  

The article demonstrates the radically different approaches to aid in Somalia by Turkey and the UAE.  Turkey is spreading a Turkish form of political Islam that has sparked competition with the UAE, which seeks to contain the spread of political Islam.  

China's Strategic Repositioning towards Africa (in French)

 Thierry Pairault has translated a Chinese document to French titled "As 'Decoupling' Intensifies, Africa Is the Key to China's Breakthrough: Reflections from a Closed-Door Meeting" and subtitled "La Russie, l'Ukraine et le 'repositionnement' strategique de la Chine vers l'Afrique."

The Chinese document is the report of a symposium held on 27 May 2022 held under the aegis of the journal Culture and the Association for Research in Eurasian Systems Science.  In their reflections, references to the Russia-Ukraine conflict are an opportunity to urge a revision of China's international strategy that more effectively counters the West led by the United States.  Africa plays a key role.  

The War in Ukraine and US Policy in Afrca

 Just Security published on 18 April 2022 a commentary titled "How the War in Ukraine Illustrates the Weakness of US Policy Toward Africa" by Aude Darnal, Atlantic Council.

African countries' reluctance to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine underscores a long-standing US policy of relegating them to the background of US foreign policy.

An Update on Somalia's Al-Shabaab

 The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 23 September 2021 a paper titled "Examining Extremism: Harakat al Shabaab al Mujihideen (al Shabaab)" by Jake Harrington and Jared Thompson. 

This is an overview of al-Shabaab, its strategy and tactics, and its efforts to balance the often-competing goals of  establishing an al-Shabaab-led government in Somalia and advancing the global al-Qaeda brand.  

China's Security Strategy in Africa

 The Institute for International Political Studies published on 29 July 2021 a paper titled "China's Blended Approach to Security in Africa" by Paul Nantulya, Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

The author argues that China's military strategy in Africa centers on cultivating personal and professional ties, diffusing norms and models, and forging ideological and political bonds of solidarity.

Russia and China Compete/Cooperate in Africa

 In Depth News published on 22 July 2021 an interview with business analyst Lipton Matthews titled "Russia and China: Geopolitical Rivals and Competitors in Africa" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.

Matthews argues that China and Russia are competing with America in Africa for ideological supremacy.  As a result, Western leaders need to understand better how ideas and history impact their policies in Africa.

The Role of Ideology in PRC-Africa Relations

 The Hudson Institute has just published a study titled "The 'China Dream' and the African Reality: The Role of Ideology in PRC-Africa Relations" by James Barnett.

The author argues that Beijing seeks to provide developing world elites with a malleable intellectual and practical program for advancing illiberal governance.  This ideological element is present in China's approach to Sub-Saharan Africa.  The Communist Party of China's overall impact on African politics should not be overstated, however.  Ideological affinities matter, but economic interests play a greater role in moving African states into Beijing's orbit.