The State Department and the Trump Administration

 The American Conservative published on 22 July 2026 a commentary titled "The Fight Inside Trump's State Department Is About Power--Not Expertise" by Phillip Linderman.

The author argues that the Trump administration is trying to salvage the US Foreign Service from the "globalist and woke values" that dominate professional diplomatic services.  But the "old guard" in the State Department is stymieing this effort in the belief that the situation in the Department will return to normal after Trump leaves office.

For decades, the State Department's machinery has reflexively favored the globalist or internationalist Foreign Service officer over the American First officer.  Now an administration is trying to rebalance the institution.   

The old guard understands that accepting Trump's approach would mean surrendering much of its power to shape foreign policy.  That is why its members defended "the corrupt and dysfunctional USAID."  He concludes: "This is a fight about Washington power, not diplomatic expertise."

Comment:  There is a grain of truth to the author's core argument.  Foreign Service officers tend to be globalist and internationalist in their approach to foreign affairs.  That has also been the approach of all post-World War II administrations with the exception of the first Trump administration.  Foreign Service officers, especially at the senior level, also want to have an impact on the foreign policy decision making process and not meekly parrot every decision that comes from on high.  

This is where his analysis falls apart.  There is a role for offering a slightly different approach or even a contrary point of view backed up by sound knowledge and analysis.  If it is not accepted, then obviously the decision from "on high" must be accepted.  In the vast majority of cases in my experience, this has been the response from the Foreign Service.  If significant differences remained, the Foreign Service officer was moved to a different position or resigned.  

A Foreign Service officer has every right to disagree, for example, with the author's definition of USAID as "corrupt and dysfunctional" because he is flat-out wrong and the administration erred in dismantling the organization.  But the Trump administration made the decision to shut USAID down, and it is up to the Foreign Service to implement the new policy on foreign assistance.  I suspect the overwhelming majority of Foreign Service officers today are doing just that.

The author argues that the "public record" suggests senior Foreign Service officers' reluctance to implement the president's decisions fully and faithfully is widespread.  The "public record" he cites is a flawed analysis titled "Why Does Trump Hate the State Department" published by The American Conservative on July 20 and reposted below on July 21.  

China Reengages with Libya's Government of National Unity

 Africa Press posted on 20 February 2026 an article titled "China Returns to Libya with New Economic Partnership" by Tamara Pro.

Closed since 2014 for security reasons, China reopened its embassy in Tripoli late last year and recently appointed an ambassador.  Subsequently, China signed a number of economic agreements with the Government of National Unity (GNU). China will likely begin to increase its purchase of Libyan oil and may expand the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya.

China will continue to maintain balanced relations between the GNU in western Libya and the Government of National Stability that controls eastern Libya.

Major Chinese Investments in Suez Canal Economic Zone

 Zawya Projects posted on 29 May 2023 an article titled "Chinese Companies Flock to Egypt's SCZONE" by Eman Hamed.

Chinese companies have announced more than $3 billion in investment projects in the coming years in the Suez Canal Economic Zone in the chemical, textile/apparel, power, pipes, and iron and steel sectors. 

Comment:  Historically, not all announcements of Chinese investment projects materialize and it will be instructive what happens in this case.

Zimbabwe-China Extractive, Energy, and Financial Service Sector Relations

 The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association published on 12 September 2022 a "Policy Brief on Zim-China Relations."

The policy brief analyzes the positive and negative aspects of Chinese investments within the extractive sector with a focus on three key minerals (gold, diamonds, and chrome), energy, and financial services sector.

Critical Infrastructure in China's Africa Strategy

 The National Bureau of Asian Research published on 3 May 2022 a major study titled "(In) Roads and Outposts: Critical Infrastructure in China's Africa Strategy" edited by Nadege Rolland.

It examines the implications of China's growing presence in African ports, railways, industrial parks, information and telecommunication networks, and power generation.  It has chapters by Isaac Kardon on ports, Yunnan Chen on railways, Daria Impiombato on telecommunications, Erica Downs on power, and Thierry Pairault on industrial parks.  

Zambia's Debt Exposure with China

 The China Africa Research Initiative published in September 2021 a paper titled "How Zambia and China Co-Created a Debt 'Tragedy of the Commons'" by Deborah Brautigam.  

Zambia is an extreme case of principal-agent problems in Chinese lending.  Among all African countries with Chinese loans, Zambia has the second largest number (after Angola) of different Chinese contractors winning Chinese loan-financed projects, and the largest number of distinct Chinese lenders.  This multiplication of stakeholders has created fierce competition for infrastructure contracts in Zambia.

China Moves to Equity Investment in Foreign Coal Power Projects

Panda Paw Dragon Claw recently posted an analysis titled "How China's Power Companies Invest Overseas" by Wang Yan and Li Danqing, both climate campaigners with extensive experience in Chinese overseas energy investment.

The authors look at China's construction of foreign coal power projects from 2009 to 2018. Until 2012, all of the projects were based on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) with no equity investment. In 2012, these projects witnessed the first equity investment and by 2018 equity investment had surpassed the EPC model. Most of the coal power plants were built in South Asia and Seutheast Asia. Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique and Madagascar accounted for far fewer projects. Equity investment involves more risk for China. The building of coal power plants also raises serious concerns about air pollution and climate change.

Ethiopia's Power, Security and Democracy Dilemma

The Institute for Security Studies published on 15 July 2019 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Power, Security and Democracy Dilemma" by Semir Yusuf.

The author concluded that political change has come rapidly in Ethiopia, raising expectations that the country is finally on the road to democracy. The challenge is Ethiopia's legacy of a strong state that is currently perceived as fragile and unwilling to restore security and the rule of law.

China's Engagement in the African Power Sector

The International Energy Agency published on 1 April 2019 a commentary titled "Another Look At China's Involvement in the Power Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa" by David Benazeraf and Yilun Yan.

At least 24 countries have contracted new power plants to Chinese construction companies between 2014 and 2024. Zambia is the largest investor in Chinese-added capacity, followed by Nigeria, Angola, Uganda, and Cote d'Ivoire. These five countries make up about half of the capacity added or being added by Chinese contractors, mostly due to large hydro projects. Compared to the almost 30 percent of new capacity that Chinese companies built as of 2016, the role of Chinese companies in Sub-Saharan Africa capacity additions has declined to 20 percent.

Somalia: Internal Fights Over a Small Pie

The Institute for Security Studies published on 23 October 2018 an analysis titled "Somalia's Zero-sum Politics Will See No Winners" by Omar S. Mahmood.

Somalia's federal partners continue to fight over limited resources. The author argues that the solution is to work together to expand the size of the pie rather than fight over the small one that currently defines Somalia.

The World According to China

The Diplomat published on 3 October 2018 an analysis titled "The World According to China" by Bradley A. Thayer, University of Texas at San Antonio, and John M. Friend, University of Hawaii.

The authors conclude that China is offering authoritarian values that are appealing to governments whose hold on power is threatened by U.S. principles such as the rule of law, free speech, democracy, and transparency and accountability in government. By 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, they predict Beijing will expect other countries to accept the new Chinese concept of global order.

Chinese Manufacturing Investments in Africa

The China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) published in August 2018 a study titled "What Kinds of Chinese 'Geese' Are Flying To Africa? Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms" by Deborah Brautigam, SAIS, Tang Xiaoyang, Tsinghua University, and Xia Ying, S.J.D. candidate at Harvard Law School.

The paper provides an analysis of the nature of Chinese manufacturing investments in Africa, focusing on Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. It explores the varieties of existing Chinese manufacturing investment and the sectors into which Chinese companies are investing. Chinese manufacturing investment in Africa is expanding rapidly but the official data on investment approvals significantly overstate the actual number of investments in operation.

CARI published a policy brief on the same subject.

South Sudan Increases Security in Oil Fields

Bloomberg published on 8 February 2017 an article titled "South Sudan beefs Up Security at Oil Fields" by Okech Francis. The article details efforts by South Sudan to increase oil production and, hence, revive the economy.

Chinese Infrastructure Engagement in Africa

The China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) at Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies hosted on 13-14 October 2016 a conference in Washington titled "Orient Express: Chinese Infrastructure Engagement in Africa."

Videos of the panels and presentations are available below:

--Panel 1: Roads, Railroads, and Ports I

--Panel 2: Roads, Railroads, and Ports II

--Keynote Speech: Jamie Monson, Michigan State University and Panel 3: Power

--Panel 3: Power (Continued)

--Panel 4: Financing

--Panel 5: Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility

--Panel 6: Labor and Skills Transfer

China as Africa's Builder

The Diplomat published on 29 September 2016 an article titled "'China Inc.' Becomes China the Builder in Africa" by Janet Eom, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

The author explains that most Chinese loans in Africa are used to build connective infrastructure such as roads, railroads, and power lines.

China, Kenya, and Coal-powered Electricity

Quartz Africa published on 28 July 2016 an article titled "The Worst Thing about Kenya's New Power Plant Isn't that Chinese Workers Are Being Brought in To Build It" by Lily Kuo.

While China has been criticized for bringing Chinese workers to Kenya to build a coal-fired power plant, the author argues that the more important concern is that Kenya is building an environmentally unsound power project.

Africa Construction Trends Report 2015: Role of China

Deloitte has just published its Africa Construction Trends Report 2015.  The number of projects qualifying for inclusion in 2015 is 301, a 17 percent increase over 2014.

The report dispels some myths about the perceived overwhelming role of China in the construction of infrastructure in Africa.  International development finance institutions funded most of the projects in 2015 followed by African governments, an amalgamation of participation by individual countries, and then China on a stand-alone basis.  China is the owner of only one project but is involved in the funding of 13 projects (4 percent) and heavily present in the construction of 42 projects (15 percent). 

Power and Influence in Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria published in March 2015 a study titled "Power and Influence in Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa" by Jakkie Cilliers, Julia Schunemann, and Jonathan D. Moyer, all of ISS. 

The authors looked at Africa's "big five" over the next 25 years: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa on the basis that they potentially hold the greatest amount of power in Africa.  Collectively, they represent 60 percent of the African economy, 40 percent of Africa's population, and 58 percent of the the continent's military spending.  By 2040, Africa's total relative power is forecast to surpass that of the declining European Union and the United States.  At the same time, Africa will likely remain at the margins of global power because it does not speak with one voice or act in unison.  Nigeria and Ethiopia are expected to grow considerably in the next 25 years while Egypt, South Africa, and Algeria are forecast to remain stagnant or experience a slight decline. 

ISS published on 25 March 2015 a summary of the report titled "Africa and Global Power: On the Rise, but at the Margins."

African Construction Trends Report 2014

The private American company, Deloitte, published in 2015 its "African Construction Trends Report 2014".  It reviews the continent by region--Southern, West, East, Central, and North--and provides brief case studies on Kenya, Nigeria, and Mozambique. 

Investment by value of mega projects under construction in Africa grew by 46 percent in 2014, climbing from $222 billion in 2013 to $326 billion in 2014. 

China-South Africa Relations

Pambazuka News published on 19 February 2015 a commentary titled "Zuma's State of the Nation Address: A Chinasque Reading" by Bob Wekesa, a research associate with the Wits China-Africa Reporting Project. 

South African President Jacob Zuma's 12 February 2015 State of the Nation Address focused heavily on energy issues.  Wekesa points out that China was mentioned more frequently than any other country.