China Courts African Media Leaders

 China Daily published on 20 August 2026 an article titled "Deeper China-Africa Media Relations Urged" by Zhao Jia.

The 7th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation brought together in Beijing about 400 government, media, diplomatic, business, and academic representatives from China and 45 African countries.  Representatives reportedly urged China-Africa media cooperation to move beyond equipment support and program exchanges toward coproduction and two-way storytelling in order to help the African media better narrate their own stories and bring a wider African perspective to Chinese audiences.  

China-Africa Ties and US Policy

 The Congressional Research Service published on 6 August 2026 a paper titled "China-Sub-Saharan Africa Ties and U.S. Policy" by Nicolas Cook, Lauren Ploch Blanchard, and Michael D. Sutherland.

China presents its engagement in Africa as promoting mutually beneficial economic development without imposing political conditions.  In practice, China seeks to use integrated multidimensional engagement to advance its broader global strategic goals of expanding its international influence, strengthening its access to natural resources, and challenging US global leadership.

Economic activity is a central pillar of China's activity in Africa.  Beijing's policy banks and state-backed lenders have extended numerous loans to African governments and other actors, making China a key bilateral creditor on the continent.  China engages in education and media cooperation, and provides development aid via grants and concessional loans, technical assistance, and humanitarian programs. Security cooperation between China and African countries has grown, especially over the last decade. 

China-Sub-Saharan Africa Ties and U.S. Policy

 The Congressional Research Service published on 6 August 2026 a report titled "China-Sub-Saharan Africa Ties and U.S. Policy" by Nicolas Cook, Lauren Ploch Blanchard, and Michael D. Sutherland.

This is a comprehensive overview of China's relations with Sub-Saharan Africa and guidance for US policymakers.  

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces Still Holds Sudanese Journalists

 The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 30 July 2026 a press release titled "CPJ Calls for Release of Ailing Sudanese Journalists Held by RSF, Protection of Darfur 24 Reporters."

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces kidnapped three Nyala radio station journalists in February and threatened Darfur 24 reporters.  The Committee to Protect Journalists called for the release of the journalists and condemnation of the threats against Darfur 24 reporters.

Youth and Social Media Challenge Authority in Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 Ethiopia Insight published on 17 July 2026 a commentary titled "Tigray's Youth Are Breaking the TPLF's Narrative Monopoly" by Asmelash Yohannes Teklu.

The rise of social media in Tigray region of Ethiopia is challenging the Tigray People's Liberation Front's control of information.  Young Tigrayans are rejecting attempts to drag Tigray into another destructive conflict.  They are confronting the TPLF in ways that would have been unimaginable a decade ago.

Ethiopian Newspaper Editor Snatched

 The Eastleigh Voice published on 17April 2026 an article titled "'Addis Standard' Editor Million Beyene Missing after Alleged Abduction in Ethiopian Capital" by Mwangi Maina.  

Addis Standard managing editor Million Beyene remains missing after being abducted in Addis Ababa on 15 April, allegedly by security personnel.  The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for his release and the holding accountable of those who seized him.  

Russia's Security Program in Africa after the Wagner Group

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published in February 2026 a study titled "Back to the Shadows: Russia's African Security Engagements Since Prigozhin" by Ivan U. Klyszcz, Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia.  

Russia continues to deploy military personnel and conduct information operations to shape regional politics in Africa.  Since 2023, Moscow has taken tighter control, with Kremlin-linked figures, state agencies, and federal funding driving these efforts.  Russian activities reflect the Kremlin's top foreign policy priorities but are constrained by competing demands, especially the war in Ukraine.

Federal Judge Reinstates Voice of America Employees

 The Washington Post published on 17 March 2026 an article titled "Judge Reinstates 1,000 Voice of America Employees, Deems Wind-down Illegal" by Scott Nover.

Following a full year on paid administrative leave as a result of the Trump administration's effort to dismantle the Voice of America (VOA) and its parent organization, the Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a federal judge ruled the action unlawful and ordered USAGM to return more than 1,000 employees to work by March 23 to resume international broadcasting.  Under Kari Lake, USAGM retained only 68 positions.

Comment:  The Trump administration may appeal the decision.  It is also not clear how many of the employees are still available, although most of them likely remained with VOA as they were being paid but not allowed to work.  This is a major victory for telling America's story abroad.  

The Voice of America Lives On, Sort Of

 The Washington Post published on 13 March 2026 an article titled "Trump Picks Head for VOA Parent Amid Lake Legal Battle" by Scott Nover and Adam Taylor.

The Trump administration nominated defeated Arizona candidate for governor and US senator, Kari Lake, to oversee the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which runs the Voice of America (VOA) and several other organizations such as Radio Free Asia.  The idea was to put Lake in charge to shut down these semi-independent government media outlets.  

US District Judge Royce Lamberth recently ruled that Lake has been illegally running USAGM and nullified months of Lake's actions, including a mass layoff of hundreds of employees. The Trump administration has now responded by naming Sarah B. Rogers, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, as the new chief executive of USAGM.  She will apparently keep her current position in the State Department while assuming her new role as CEO of USAGM.  

The White House only provided enough funding to shut down USAGM, but the US Congress rejected that approach and appropriated $653 million for the agency's operations this year. 

Comment:  This development keeps the VOA and its sister organizations alive but now under the direct supervision of the State Department.  USAGM and its media organizations will apparently lose much of their previous independence.  It is also not clear how many of the USAGM work force have remained during this demoralizing and unsettled past year.  

Somaliland Journalist Held without Charges

 The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 6 March 2026 a press release titled "Somaliland Journalist Ahmed-Zaki Ibrahim Mohamud Held Without Charge Since February."

The founder of Warrame Media has been held without charges since 22 February by Somaliland authorities, who have cracked down on press freedom over the past year.  

Is China's Media Campaign in Africa Working?

 Semafor published on 2 March 2026 an article titled "China's Media Push in Africa Has Largely Failed, Analysts Say" by Jeronimo Gonzalez.   

Although Africans perceived China's influence positively in a recent Afro Barometer poll, a Nigerian analyst believes Beijing's multi-billion media campaign to attract an audience has largely failed.  African audiences still prefer news from the West.

Comment:  The fact remains that the Afro Barometer poll of 29 countries indicates Africans have a more positive perception of China's influence in Africa than of US or EU influence.  The negative perception of all three is about the same.  

Is Ethiopia Preparing for War?

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File published on 25 February 2026 an analysis titled "Ethiopia Prepares for War: Africa File Special Edition" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Anahita Asudani.

The analysis concludes that the Ethiopian federal government will likely launch an offensive against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) within the next month to neutralize the TPLF and its role in an emerging, loose anti-Ethiopian federal government coalition consisting of Eritrea, the TPLF, and other Amhara and Oromo ethnic nationalist groups.  

Ethiopian Crackdown on Independent Media

 The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 24 February 2026 a news release titled "Ethiopia Revokes Addis Standard's License Amid Escalating Crackdown on Independent Media."

The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) revoked the Addis Standard's online media registration certificate effective 24 February.  The EMA accused the Addis Standard of violating Ethiopian laws and endangering the national interests of the country.  The action is part of a crackdown on independent media in Ethiopia.

The Legacy of Russia's Wagner Group in Africa

 Nigeria's The Authority published on 20 February 2026 an article titled "As Russia Takes Over the Wagner Group: Implications for Africa" by Ipole Amajama.  

The government of the Russian Federation has taken over the Wagner Group under the guidance of the Foreign Intelligence Service.   As a result, it has become part of the state-led strategy of influence and power projection.   Much of its effort in Africa is focused on a media campaign of disinformation.  

Journalists Organization Calls on Ethiopia to Reinstate Reuters Staff

 The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 16 February 2026 a news release titled "Ethiopia Revokes Journalists' Accreditation Following Investigative Report."

The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Ethiopian authorities to restore the accreditation of 3 Reuters journalists who were banned from reporting following an in-depth report that Ethiopia was secretly training forces to fight on behalf of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.  

As UK and US Retreat from Africa, China Steps Up Media Effort

 The Independent published on 30 January 2026 an article titled "How UK Aid Cuts Help China Win the Battle for Hearts and Minds in Africa" by Dani Madrid-Morales, University of Sheffield.

The British and American retreat from Africa is being cleverly exploited by China to win the hearts and minds of Africans.  Much of China's success is due to its all-out effort to dominate the media domain in Africa as Western outlets pull back.

Future of the China-Africa Relationship

 The Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory, an Accra-based think tank, published in January 2026 a paper titled "Why People Matter: Reimagining the Future of Africa-China Cooperation" by Paul Frimpong.

The Africa-China connection needs to shift from a primarily state-to-state model toward a society-to-society approach.  Governments remain essential, but durable cooperation is built when universities, collaborate, journalists exchange perspectives, businesses form partnerships, and communities interact directly.

A second shift is from delivery-focused engagement to experience and impact-focused cooperation.  Success should be measured not only by outputs--kilometers of road or megawatts of power--but by outcomes such as skills development, technology absorption, and local enterprise growth.

The third shift is from delivery exposure to mutual learning.  People-to-people exchanges are most effective when they are reciprocal, allowing Africans and Chinese alike to learn, adapt, and innovate together.  This mutuality strengthens trust and reinforces the principle of partnership.

China Steps Up Soft Power in Africa

 The South China Morning Post published on 18 January 2026 an article titled "How China Is Stepping Up Africa China Offensive to Boost Cultural Ties, Deepen Influence" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

China began 2026 by emphasizing its people-to-people and soft power interaction in Africa.  This was one of the features of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Lesotho.

Will the Voice of America Rise Like a Phoenix?

 The Washington Post posted on 13 January 2026 an article titled "Congress Agrees to Fund Voice of America, Bucking Trump Shutdown Order" by Scott Nover.

A bipartisan spending bill from both houses of Congress would allocate $643 million for broadcasting from the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees the Voice of America (VOA).  While that figure is down from the $867 million appropriated for the agency each of the last two years, it is more than four times the $153 million the Trump administration requested that Congress provide to "support the orderly shutdown of USAGM operations."  The package still needs full House and Senate approval before going to President Trump for signature.  

In March, Trump called for the dismantlement of USAGM, which also funds Radio Free Asia, Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Europe.  Kari Lake, the deputy CEO installed by Trump to shut down USAGM, placed more than 1,300 VOA staffers on paid administrative leave and halted broadcasting operations.  It is the first time the VOA went silent since it was established in 1942.  

Comment:  The decision to dismantle USAGM was especially misguided.  Elon Musk played a major role in the decision.  It is refreshing there is bipartisan support in Congress to fund the agency, albeit at reduced levels.  While this is not yet a done deal, it hopefully invokes the lyrics of the song "Rise Like a Phoenix" by Conchita Wurst, chosen to represent Austria at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark:

Rise like a phoenix

Out of the ashes

Seeking rather than vengeance,

retribution

You were warned

Once I'm transformed, once I'm

reborn

I rise to the sky

You threw me down but

I'm gonna fly 

China-Africa Cooperation in 2026

 China Africa News published on 1 January 2026 an article titled "What's at Stake in 2026 for AU-China Cooperation?" by Cremilda Macuacua.

People-to-people exchanges, and training programs will highlight China-Africa relations in 2026.  There will be a focus on health care, food security, rural development, and expanded trade.