Shaping the Future of Africa-China Engagement

 The Collectif pour le Renouveau Africain (CORA or Collective for African Renewal) published in October 2023 a 313 page report titled "Shaping the Future of Africa-China Engagement" edited by Folashade Soule.  

Written from an African perspective, the report's goal is to engage both scholars and African policymakers to rethink how the Africa-China relationship can be better rebalanced in order to address its inherent structural asymmetries and benefit Africa more.  It consists of 8 contributions (6 in English and 2 in French) that investigate how Africa-China relations impact the political economy of African states, and how both governmental and non-governmental African actors organize and benefit or not from these relationships.

The report is structured around the following four thematic topics: (1) enhancing governance frameworks in Africa-China relations; (2) strengthening local agency in Africa-China negotiations; (3) redefining labor norms and practices in Africa-China projects; and (4) reinforcing societal issues in Africa-China governmental engagement.  

It contains the following contributions:

--The Digital Silk Road and Emerging African Data Governance Frameworks: Evidence from Egypt by Tin Hinane el Kadi, London School of Economics

--People-Centered Engagement: Ghanaians' Perspectives on Ghana-China Security Relations by Sulley Ibrahim, Conflict Research Network West Africa

--Limited Local Agency? Local Community Benefits and Challenges in Chinese Funded Infrastructure Projects in Kenya by Oscar Otele, University of Nairobi

--Kambele: Une Exploitation Miniere Camerounaise a Visage Chinois? by Nya Mbessa Merlin Brice, University of Yaounde

--Chinese Miners, Community Resistance and Collaboration in Ghana by Isaac Odoom, Carleton University

--Twyford Ceramics: Un Capitalisme Chinois en Afrique? - Position Paper by Ibrahima Niang, University of Cheikh Anta Diop

--(Re-)Defining the Role of the African University in Africa-China Relations by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University

--A Case of Several Asymmetries: Integrating Racial Questions into Africa-China Governmental Relations by Runako Celina, Black Livity China

The Challenges of Reporting a War in Ethiopia

 The Pulitzer Center posted on 15 February 2023 an interview with journalist Ann Neumann by Grace Jensen titled "Behind the Story: The War in Ethiopia and Its Crimes Against Civilians."

This looks at the difficulties an international journalist faces in reporting on a war where access is limited or denied and atrocities are common.  

Interview with Tigrai Press on Situation in Ethiopia

 Arizona-based Tigrai Press invited me on 14 September 2022 to respond to questions about the situation in Ethiopia and especially in Tigray Region.  The half hour video discussion focused on the international and American reaction to the crisis and the role of Eritrea.  

China's Wolf Warrior II and Its Meaning for Africa

 The Conversation published on 1 September 2022 a commentary titled "Wolf Warrior II: What the Blockbuster Movie Tells Us about China's Views on Africa" by Yu Xiang, Shanghai University, and Jinpu Wang, Syracuse University. 

The 2017 film tells the story of an exiled elite Chinese soldier who travels to an unnamed African country and gets caught in the middle of a civil war between government troops and mercenaries.  The hero rescues African and Chinese civilians and defeats the mercenaries.  China is portrayed as a beacon of hope, development, and peace in Africa.

The authors note that it has been five years since the release of Wolf Warrior II.  Yet the nationalism and racism in the film have not faded within China.  Indeed they have grown stronger, especially on social media in China.

The Lancet Editorializes on WHO's Ethiopian Director General

 The Lancet published on 27 August 2022 an editorial titled "Tedros: Tigray, the Triple Billion, and a Second Term."

The editorial reviews briefly the controversial remarks about racism by the World Health Organization's (WHO) Ethiopian Director General, Tedros Adhanom.  The main focus of the editorial is, however, on Tedros' second term as head of the WHO.  It argues that he needs to devolve responsibility and provide more support to strengthened WHO regional offices rather than rely so heavily on direction from the top.  

The Impact of COVID-19 on China-South Africa Relations

 World Affairs in its fall 2022 edition published an article titled "COVID-19 and South Africa-China Asymmetric Relations" by Adeoye O. Akinola and Oluwaseun Tella, both at the University of Johannesburg.

The article explores South Africa-China relations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The authors argue that Beijing's response to COVID-19 raises more questions than it answers.  The outbreak of the virus in China, its response, and emerging cases of racism and xenophobia against Africans in China also raise concerns about the future of South Africa-China relations.

Racism Is Universal; China Is No Exception

 Panda Paw Dragon Claw published on 21 June 2022 a commentary titled "BRI Notebook: 'Racism for Sale'" by T. J. Ma.  

This commentary discusses a BBC investigative report "Racism for Sale" of a Chinese online industry that has set off a storm in the China-Africa space.  The particular online video exposed by the BBC is a clear case of racism, but it is part of an industry that is much less clear and poses challenges for ending. 

Africans and the Russia-Ukraine War

 Punch published on 13 March 2022 a commentary titled "Africans and the Russia-Ukraine War" by Chidi Anselm Odinkalu.  

While condemning the treatment of Africans in Ukraine as they fled the country, the author concludes that African leaders offer neither ideas on geo-strategic impact of the war on the continent nor succor to the Africans caught up in it.  

Do Russian Military Aircraft Sales Impact East Africa's Position on Putin's War?

 Tanzania's The Citizen published on 6 March 2022 an article titled "National Interests Prevail as African Leaders Tread Carefully on Ukraine Crisis" by Aggrey Mutambo. 

East Africa states other than Kenya have been reluctant to criticize Russia's invasion of Ukraine, although Somalia, Djibouti, and Rwanda joined Kenya in the UN General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia.  Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi abstained or did not vote while Eritrea supported Russia.  Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Sudan, and South Sudan are heavily dependent on Russia for military aircraft.  

US Official Discusses Putin's War with African Press

 The U.S. State Department posted on 3 March 2022 a "Digital Press Briefing with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee" with African media representatives on the impact of Russian aggression in Ukraine and its impact on Africa.

Molly Phee emphasized that the United States is not asking African states to take sides.  It is asking Africans to accept the principle that aggression in unacceptable in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world.  

Impact of Putin's War on Africans

 Foreign Policy posted on 2 March 2022 a commentary titled "How the Russia-Ukraine War Impacts Africans" by Nosmot Gbadamosi.

The article focuses on the charges of racism against Ukraine and European officials as African students try to flee to safety.  The author also suggests Russia's increasing isolation may push it closer to African countries such as Mali and the Central African Republic that have employed Russian mercenaries to deal with their own security problems.  

China-Africa: Elephants in the Room

 Open Democracy, a UK-registered independent global media organization, published on 23 March 2021 a commentary titled "China's Relations with the African Continent: Three Elephants in the Room" by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi.

The author says the first elephant in the room is Chinese racism aimed at Africans.  Second is the limited impact of Chinese media in Africa.  Third is the economic devastation in Africa caused by COVID-19.  

China Faces Growing Problems in Africa (in French)

 The Conversation posted on 14 March 2021 a commentary titled "Chinafrique: le temps des problemes" by Thierry Vircoulon, French Institute of International Affairs.

The author notes cites the enormous rise in China's presence in Africa over the past 20 years, adding it is not surprising this has led to growing problems in the relationship.  He emphasizes the impact of COVID-19, African debt, racism, and China's trade in illegal products.  

China and the US: Africa Should Not Pick Sides

 South Africa's Mail and Guardian published on 21 August 2020 a commentary titled "A New Cold War Is Coming. Africa Should Not Pick Sides" by W. Gyude Moore, Center for Global Development and former minister of public works in Liberia.  

The author concludes that Africa is best served by charting its own course and sitting out the coming Cold War between China and the US, taking over the driver's seat of its development future and determining which partners will bring the most value.  

China-Africa Virtual COVID-19 Summit

The Daily Maverick published on 28 June 2020 a commentary titled "Not Much Give from China in its Relationship with Africa" by Cobus van Staden, South Africa Institute of International Affairs.

China's President Xi Jinping met virtually with African counterparts on 17 June 2020 to discuss COVID-19.  The author concluded that the virtual summit was more notable for what it did not do. 

Future of China-Nigeria Relations

The Conversation posted on 28 May 2020 a commentary titled "Why Maltreatment of Nigerians in China May Not End Soon" by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University.

The author argues that the long-standing unequal relationship between Nigeria and China make it difficult to promote a return to normalcy in the aftermath of the Guangzhou incident.

Is Chinese Racism the Same as Western Racism?

CNN posted on 26 May 2020 a piece titled "China Says It Has a 'Zero-tolerance Policy' for Racism, but Discrimination towards Africans Goes Back Decades" by Jenni Walsh.

The CNN program looks at a history of discrimination towards Africans in China and compares Western and Chinese racism. 

Events in Guangzhou Fail to Reset Africa's Relations with China

African Arguments posted on 26 May 2020 a commentary titled "Last Month Could've Been a Real Turning Point for Africa-China Ties" by Barney Walsh, King's College London.

By treating racism against the African community in Guangzhou last month as an anomaly caused by local officials, China managed to end publicly expressed concerns by African leaders.  The outrage on African social media, however, is not likely to disappear anytime soon. 

COVID-19 and Chinese Soft Power in Africa

Panda Paw Dragon Claw, a popular blog in China, posted on 10 May 2020 a question and answer with me titled "Covid-19 and Chinese Soft Power in Africa."

The Q and A deals with the African reaction to events in Guangzhou and China's handling of the criticism from the perspective of an outside observer. Briefly, those African governments that responded negatively are likely to put this behind them quickly but African publics and civil society are not going to forget Guangzhou any time soon. This is not the place for the American or Western governments to gloat; Africans and Chinese need to sort this out on their own.

The Genesis of the China-Africa Relationship

Panda Paw Dragon Claw posted on 2 May 2020 a thoughtful analysis titled "Bring Back the 'Bandung Spirit' in China-Africa Relationship" by Liu Haifang, Peking University.

The author concludes that the recent incident of racism in Guangzhou highlights the huge gap of language, culture and values between China and Africa, a reality that everyone needs to face in pursuing a sustainable cross-continental relationship. She urges that China's study of Africa must step outside the small echo chambers of think tanks and the restrictive focus on China-Africa economic collaboration.