China in Africa

Xi Jinping with African flags

(Photo: ISS.)

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies has undertaken a series of analyses tracking China in Africa.

Spotlight

Lessons from China’s Forum Diplomacy in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean

By Paul Nantulya and Leland Lazarus
January 22, 2024

African, Latin American, and Caribbean countries can enhance the benefits of their engagements with China by expanding coordination and lessons sharing to ensure that citizens’ interests are prioritized.

The Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Kibaha, Tanzania

Spotlight

China’s First Political School in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
November 7, 2023

The Nyerere Leadership School, supported by China’s Central Party School, provides ideological training to cadres from African liberation parties that have governed uninterrupted since independence.

Xi Jinping inspects a military honor guard in Pretoria, South Africa.

Spotlight

China’s “Military Political Work” and Professional Military Education in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
October 30, 2023

China envisages professional military education in Africa as an opportunity to promote China’s governance model while deepening ties to Africa’s ruling political parties.

China's United Front

Spotlight

China’s United Front Strategy in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
September 5, 2023

China’s United Front work co-opts well-placed individuals and organizations to cultivate support for and defend China’s goals and interests while isolating China’s opponents in Africa.

Spotlight

Africa’s Interests in Strengthening the United Nations System

By Paul Nantulya
August 14, 2023

African countries have played an overlooked role shaping the UN international system, remain committed to preserving and improving it, and oppose efforts to destabilize, dismantle, or overturn it.

Zanzibar's anti-riot police officers stand gaurd by a group of men sitting on the ground during an operation after the opposition called for protests in Stone Town, on October 29, 2020 as tensions rise while the results of the general election are being announced.

Spotlight

China’s Policing Models Make Inroads in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
May 22, 2023

China’s expanded police engagements in Africa could have potentially far-reaching consequences for African security governance.

Video

China’s Influence on African Media

May 12, 2023

China media expert Bob Wekesa reflects on the Chinese Communist Party’s model of total state control of information and its export to Africa.

Spotlight

Africa’s Role in China’s Multilateralism Strategy

By Paul Nantulya
January 24, 2023

China’s efforts to reshape existing global institutions and norms rely on the support of African governments, though this can often be at odds with African citizen interests.

Spotlight

China’s Deepening Ties to Africa in Xi Jinping’s Third Term

By Paul Nantulya
November 29, 2022

Embarking on his third term in power, Xi Jinping is firmly in control of China’s foreign policy, which is expected to accentuate the enlistment of African support for reshaping global institutions and validating China’s governance norms.

China’s Diplomacy in the Horn— Conflict Mediation as Power Politics

Spotlight

China’s Diplomacy in the Horn—Conflict Mediation as Power Politics

By Paul Nantulya
October 12, 2022

China’s support for ruling parties undermines its ability to be an impartial arbiter of conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa and highlights China’s use of mediation to pursue its geostrategic interests.

The Japan–Africa Forum—Fostering Stability through Peace and Security

Spotlight

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development—Fostering Stability through Peace and Security

By Paul Nantulya
August 22, 2022

TICAD’s bottom-up, multisectoral, and co-partnership approach is welcome in Africa and offers a model for the value of long-term partnerships to strengthen development, peace, and security.

Considerations for a Prospective New Chinese Naval Base in Africa

Spotlight

Considerations for a Prospective New Chinese Naval Base in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
May 12, 2022

China's reported plans to add another naval base in Africa raise questions about China's increasingly militarized strategy and may stoke fears of compromised sovereignty amid a new "scramble" for Africa.

Guānxì: Power, Networking, and Influence in China-Africa Relations

Spotlight

Guānxì: Power, Networking, and Influence in China-Africa Relations

By Paul Nantulya
December 7, 2021

China-Africa relations thrive on interpersonal ties of mutual dependence, obligations, and reciprocity that African elites tend to skew to their benefit at the expense of the public interest.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation at 21: Where to Next?

Spotlight

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation at 21: Where to Next?

By Paul Nantulya
September 3, 2021

African countries can negotiate a more equitable role in FOCAC, but this requires a more strategically focused approach, better coordination, and greater accountability to their citizens.

Chinese Security Firms Spread along the African Belt and Road

Spotlight

Chinese Security Firms Spread along the African Belt and Road

By Paul Nantulya
June 15, 2021

The deployment of Chinese security firms in Africa is expanding without a strong regulatory framework. This poses heightened risks to African citizens and raises fundamental questions over responsibility for security in Africa.

Refaçonner l’autonomie de l’Afrique dans ses relations avec la Chine

Spotlight

Reshaping African Agency in China-Africa Relations

By Paul Nantulya
March 2, 2021

The power imbalance between China and Africa poses a challenge for negotiating equitable investment deals. The interests of African citizens can be strengthened through agreements that are transparent, involve experts, and facilitate public engagement.

The Spread of Surveillance Technology in Africa Stirs Security Concerns

Spotlight

The Spread of Surveillance Technology in Africa Stirs Security Concerns

By Bulelani Jili
December 11, 2020

The spread of surveillance technology in Africa without adequate checks and balances is reshaping the governance landscape while potentially enabling another tool of repression.

Spotlight

China Promotes Its Party-Army Model in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
July 28, 2020

China’s party-army model, whereby the army is subordinate to a single ruling party, is antithetical to the multiparty democratic systems with an apolitical military accountable to elected leaders adopted by most African countries.

Yun Sun discussing China's One Belt One Road

Video

“China Also Has to Win”: A Discussion with Yun Sun on One Belt, One Road in Africa

October 17, 2019

In an interview with the Africa Center, China expert Yun Sun offers a look at Beijing's engagement with Africa and African governments' evolving expectations of their relationship.

Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway

Spotlight

Implications for Africa from China’s One Belt One Road Strategy

By Paul Nantulya
March 22, 2019

China's Belt and Road Initiative forges intertwining economic, political, and security ties between Africa and China, advancing Beijing’s geopolitical interests.

Taking Stock of China's Hard Power in Africa

Spotlight

Chinese Hard Power Supports Its Growing Strategic Interests in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
January 17, 2019

China’s growing military engagement in Africa is aimed at advancing Beijing’s economic and strategic interests, in particular its Belt and Road Initiative.

Grand Strategy and China’s Soft Power Push in Africa

Spotlight

Grand Strategy and China’s Soft Power Push in Africa

By Paul Nantulya
August 30, 2018

China is doubling down on its soft power initiatives in Africa as part of China's Grand Strategy to tap emerging markets, shape global governance norms, and expand its influence.

Xi Jinping at Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

Spotlight

Pursuing the China Dream through Africa: Five Elements of China’s Africa Strategy

By Paul Nantulya
April 6, 2017

China’s expanding involvement in Africa is an integral piece in President Xi Jinping’s grand strategy to restore the country to its perceived rightful place of global prominence.