Chinese Digital Infrastructure Company May Set Up Headquarters in Kenya

 Construction Review published on 18 August 2026 an article titled "Guodong Africa Headquarters: China's Telecom Giants Targets $300M Digital Infrastructure in Kenya."

China's Guodong Group is in discussion with Kenyan investment authorities about establishing the company's African headquarters there.  The proposed $300 million investment would support cloud computing, data storage, smart-city infrastructure, telecommunication towers, fiber networks, and green digital technologies.  No final decisions have been made.

European Union Competes with China in Africa's Digital Economy

 Diplobrief Media posted on 19 March 2026 an article titled "EU Takes on China in Africa's Digital Race with Inaugural Global Gateway Deal in Kenya."

The European Union moved to counter China's growing influence in Africa's digital space.  As part of its Global Gateway strategy, the EU launched a new technology partnership with Kenya to deepen collaboration in telecommunications infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and e-governance.  

Chinese Artificial Intelligence Surveillance in 11 African Countries

 The Institute of Development Studies published in March 2026 a major study titled "Smart City Surveillance in Africa: Mapping Chinese AI Surveillance Across 11 Countries" edited by Wairagala Wakabi and Tony Roberts.

The report provides a comprehensive account of smart city surveillance in Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  China is by far the largest supplier of AI surveillance technologies to African governments, including to all 11 covered in this study.  

The rapid expansion of smart city surveillance is having a chilling effect on ordinary citizens and journalists.  The scale and invasive nature of mass surveillance is often not legal, necessary, or proportionate.  There is little evidence that the expansion of digital surveillance reduces overall crime.

Chiinese Surveillance Projects in African Cities

 The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 18 November 2024 a commentary titled "China's Smart Cities in Africa: Should the United States Be Concerned?" by Jason Warner and Toyasi Alibade.  

Chinese surveillance technology is in wide use in African cities governed in some cases by authoritarian regimes, which raises questions about its abuse.  Nine African countries currently use Chinese-backed "smart city" surveillance systems.  

Attraction of Chinese Surveillance Technology in Africa

 The Atlantic Council published in May 2023 a paper titled "Africa's Demand for and Adoption of Chinese Surveillance Technology" by Bulelani Jili.  

The paper addresses the motivations behind the adoption of Chinese information and communication technology systems, which include artificial intelligence surveillance tools and other biometric identification systems.

Zimbabwe Uses Chinese Technology to Surveil Citizens

 Africa Defense Forum magazine (published by U.S. Africa Command) posted on 17 January 2023 an article titled "Zimbabwe Turns to Chinese Technology to Expand Surveillance of Citizens."

The article is a summary of recent steps Zimbabwe has taken to monitor its nationals with the help of Chinese companies such as Huawei.  

Is Chinese-financed Surveillance Eroding Democracy in Mauritius?

 The National Endowment for Democracy and International Forum for Democratic Studies published on 15 December 2022 a document titled "Smart Cities and Democratic Vulnerabilities," which contains a contribution (pages 11-17) titled "Is Digitalization Endangering Democracy in Mauritius?" by Roukaya Kasenally, University of Mauritius.

Over the last five years, Mauritius has experienced significant democratic backsliding.  Worrying trends include arbitrary arrests of journalists and other citizens, amendments to broadcasting and digital legislation, closures of certain private radio stations, the political weaponization of the police, and the weakening of key oversight institutions.  

Adding to this situation is the Mauritius Safe City Project (MCSP), one of more than twenty Huawei-backed smart or "safe" city projects across Africa.  In Mauritius, it involved the installation of 4,000 cameras with facial recognition and license plate recognition capabilities.  The author argues that the real intent behind the $455 million project financed by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China remains unclear.  But critical questions about how the MCSP will affect Mauritian politics against the backdrop of the country's recent democratic backsliding are unanswered.    

Chinese Companies Help Zimbabwe Set Up Surveillance State

 Global Voices, a mostly volunteer community of international activists, posted on 10 January 2023 a commentary titled "How Zimbabwe Is Building a Big Brother Surveillance State."

A surveillance system set up with the help of Chinese companies such as Huawei and Hikvision and a loan from the China Export-Import Bank allows the leaders of Zimbabwe to keep a tight grip on political power.  

China To Build $1 Billion Industrial City in Tangier, Morocco

 Global Construction Review published on 27 July 2022 an article titled "Morocco and China Communications to Build $1bn Tangier Tech City" by David Rogers.

China and Morocco recently signed a framework agreement whereby China Communications Construction will build an industrial city in Tangier for some 200 Chinese companies.  The tech city project was first announced in 2016 and then quietly abandoned in 2018.  It has been revived with new partners and is scheduled for completion in 2027.  

Different Perspectives on the Africa-China Relationship

 The most recent issue of Asia Policy published by The National Bureau of Asian Research contains a series of essays that examine different facets of the China-Africa relationship from the perspective of African states.  

The essays are:

--Chinese Vaccine Diplomacy in Africa by Cobus van Staden.

--Changing Realities: China-Africa Infrastructure Development by Mandira Bagwandeen.

--The Digital Silk Road: Connecting Africa with New Norms of Digital Development by Ovigwe Eguegu.

--Chinese ICT and Smart City Initiatives in Kenya by Bulelani Jili.

--The China Effect: Democracy and Development in the 21st Century by Obert Hodzi.

--Status Complicated: In Zambia, China-Africa Is a Partnership Washington Should Not Necessarily Envy by Chiponda Chimbelu.  

--China in Mauritius: The Telling of the Chinese Story by Roukaya Kasenally.  

China Looks to Expand Digital Engagement with Africa

 Ghana Web posted on 30 August 2021 an article titled "China Proposes China-Africa Partnership Plan on Digital Innovation."

China is working to expand its digital engagement with African countries to include 5G, smart cities, cybersecurity, E-commerce, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure.

Comment:  Part of China's goal is to encourage Chinese digital norms among African countries that compete with or replace Western norms.