Chinese Companies Expand Surveillance Projects in Africa

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 21 March 2026 an article titled "Guinea's New Safe City Deal Pushes China's Surveillance Footprint to Nearly Half of Africa."

Guinea obtained a loan from China's Export-Import Bank to install urban surveillance systems across 324 sites in 8 cities.  The stated purpose is to enhance public security, emergency response, urban planning, and governance.

At least 26 African countries now have Chinese safe city systems either operational, planned, or stalled.  A key feature of these systems is facial recognition. The systems are often installed in a weak regulatory environment leaving them open to abuse.

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 Company Expands Satellite Cooperation with Morocco and Algeria

 Europe Says posted on 10 March 2026 an article titled "China's Geely Expands Satellite Partnerships with Morocco, Algeria."

China's Geely Auto and its aerospace division, Time Space Daoyu Technology Company, signed separate partnership agreements with Morocco and Algeria to strengthen satellite-related technology and infrastructure.

In Algeria, the cooperation focuses on building domestic aerospace manufacturing capacity.  In Morocco, the emphasis is on satellite connectivity services rather than manufacturing.

China-US Competition for Artificial Intelligence in Africa

 The South China Morning Post published on 5 March 2026 an article titled "Africa Emerges as New Arena in US-China Competition over Artificial Intelligence" by Lucy Quaggin.

Africa is increasingly seen as a critical region for artificial intelligence development because of its population and economic growth.  By 2050, one quarter of the world's population will be in Africa.  American and Chinese companies are competing for the African market and support to set standards.  

Indian Ocean: Economic and Strategic Corridors

 The Emirates Policy Center posted on 27 February 2026 an analysis titled "The Economics of Deterrence: How Corridors and Alliances Are Reshaping Geopolitics" by Ebtesam AlKetbi.  

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are frameworks for redistributing centers of gravity and influence, diversifying states' strategic options, and embedding long-term investment commitments.

The world is shifting from rigid alignments to flexible alliances that integrate economy and technology with digital and maritime security.  Power is no longer defined solely by territorial control but by the management of flows--trade, energy, data, and capital.  A state that positions itself as a central node within these networks gains strategic weight.

In the Indian Ocean region, both the Indian-led IMEC and the better known and more expansive Chinese BRI are efforts to achieve these objectives.

Somaliland/Israel/Taiwan vs China

 The University of Nottingham Taiwan Research Hub's Taiwan Insight published on 23 February 2026 a commentary titled "Taiwan's Diplomatic Bridge: Taiwan-Somaliland-Israel vs China in the Horn of Africa" by Faisal Abdirashid Adam. 

Taiwan, which established a liaison office in Somaliland in 2020, has embraced Israel's diplomatic recognition of Somaliland, framing it as a major step forward for the emerging "democratic triangle" of Taiwan, Israel, and Somaliland, which now positions itself as a powerful new alliance for trilateral cooperation in technology, agriculture, and Red Sea security.  

Egypt-China Cooperation to Curb Israel's Mossad in Africa

 Modern Diplomacy published on 14 February 2026 a commentary titled "Egypt's Shadow War: Partnering with China to Curb Mossad's Influence Across Africa" by Nadia Helmy, Beni Suef University Egypt.

The author states that Egypt and China are working together to counter Israeli intelligence activities, specifically those of Mossad, in Africa. Egypt is particularly concerned with Mossad activities in Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Eritrea.  China has reportedly provided Egypt with advanced radar and electronic warfare systems.  

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.

Africa's AI Future: China or the West?

 GZERO Media posted on 22 January 2026 a five-minute clip from a conversation titled "Africa's AI Future: China or the West?"

Africa's AI future is not predetermined by technology, but by who shows up, who invests, and who builds the infrastructure first.  China is showing up, the United States is not.  

Russia Talking with Sahel Countries on Satellite Cooperation

 Business Insider Africa published on 22 January 2026 an article titled "Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Turn to Russia to Build the Sahel's First Shared Telecom Satellite" by Solomon Ekanem.

Russia is in discussion with the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger concerning joint satellite projects, including telecommunications and remote sensing satellites to expand broadband access, secure encrypted communications, and improve surveillance of under-serviced areas.  This is a further indication of a shift by these countries away from the West.

Africa Becomes a Testing Ground for China's Yuan Globalization

 Discovery Alert, an AI-powered mining news publisher, posted on 19 January 2026 an article titled "China's Yuan Globalisation in Africa Accelerates Through 2026" by Muflih Hidayat.  

Africa is emerging as the testing ground for the Chinese yuan to replace the US dollar as China becomes more dominant in African trade.  Factors that support continued growth in China's yuan globalization in Africa are trade expansion, infrastructure investment, debt restructuring, regional integration, and technology advancement.  

Why China Needs Africa

 Azerbaijan's News.az published on 31 December 2025 an article titled "Why China Needs Africa."

For Beijing, Africa has become a strategic key to the future global order.  China needs the critical minerals found in Africa and its markets to sell its goods.  Africa is also a massive testing ground for Chinese technology, especially digital products.  China wants to shape Africa, which is young, resource-rich, globally connected through corridors built by Beijing, and less dependent on Western institutions.  China is buying time and influence in Africa.  

China Takes Lead in African Digital Development

 South Africa's The Star published on 21 December 2025 an article titled "Empowering Africa: How China's Tech Cooperation Fuels Progress" by Gideon Chitanga.

The article argues that Chinese government and companies have become critical partners in the development of Africa's digital systems and information and communications technology.  For example, Huawei has constructed an estimated 70 percent of Africa's 4-G networks.

Pros and Cons of China-supplied Facial Recognition in Cameroon

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 21 December 2025 an article titled "Cameroon Goes All In on Chinese Safe Cities, but at What Cost?"

Huawei is providing up to 24,000 CCTV cameras nationwide.  Facial recognition is a key part of the program.  The system is equipped with AI and predictive analytics capabilities, purportedly to detect behavior deemed harmful by the government.

Ten African Security Trends in 2025

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published in December 2025 an infographic titled "Ten African Security Trends from 2025 in Graphics."

The paper covers the following issues:

--Sudan Fragmentation Strains Region

--Militant Islamist Group Momentum

--Impunity and Abuses of Power

--China and Russia Expand Foothold

--Growing Gulf Actor Competition

--Escalated Fighting in the DRC

--Regional Instability Impacts Nigeria

--Evolving Warfare Technology

--Urbanization and Youth Protests

--Progress toward Agenda 2063

China-US Space Competition in Kenya

 The Star published on 11 December 2025 an article titled "China Rolls Out Space Expansion in Kenya amid Intensifying Rivalry with US in Africa" by Eliud Kibii.

The Kenya Space Agency recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Oriental Space Port Research Institute of China.  Beijing is competing with Washington for Kenya's collaboration in space and facilities on the ground.  This could place Kenya at the center of great power rivalry.   

China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation

 Xinhua published on 28 October 2025 an article titled "Chinese, African Experts Join Force to Advance Collaboration on Food Security, Agricultural Modernization."

Experts representing the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance met in Addis Ababa in October where they focused on cooperation concerning Africa's food security and agricultural modernization.  

Comment:  This is an area where USAID once had the lead in Africa.  Is the United States abandoning the field to China? 

China Funds Satellite Data Receiving Ground Station for Namibia

 The South China Morning Post published on 3 August 2025 an article titled "Beijing Builds Influence with Help for African Space Sector" by Jevans Nyabiage.

China funded and built a satellite data receiving ground station on the outskirts of Namibia's capital of Windhoek.  Together with other stations, it could provide China with continuous telemetry, tracking and command capabilities for its expanding space missions.

China has bilateral agreements with over a dozen African countries for space technology, training, and infrastructure.  African countries are increasingly partnering with China in space technology.  

Chinese Corporation Explores Cooperation with Ghana's Navy

 Military Africa published on 8 June 2025 an article titled "CATIC Visits Ghana Navy to Explore Cooperation, Enhance Maritime Capabilities" by Ekene Lionel.

Executives from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) met recently with the chief of naval staff of the Ghana Navy.  This initial meeting could potentially evolve into a more formal cooperation agreement between CATIC and the Ghana Navy.  

Abuses of Chinese Surveillance Technology in Africa

 The East Asia Forum published on 30 May 2025 an article titled "Africanising Chinese Surveillance Technology" by Bulelani Jili, Georgetown University.

African states accepting Chinese loans and subsidies for surveillance technology often fail to implement regulatory frameworks that adequately safeguard privacy and data protection.  Authoritarian African governments use this technology for intrusive and unjustified monitoring.