Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

Howard W. French: “America’s Downsized Relationship With Africa Is About to Go Totally Adrift”

by Eric Olander
A soldier carries the American flag during the inauguration of a military base in Thies, 70 km from Dakar, on February 8, 2016 on the second day of a three-week joint military exercise between African, US and European troops, known as Flintlock. SEYLLOU / AFP

Just a few days before Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi embarks on his latest visit to Africa, author and journalist Howard W. French complained that the United States appears to be going in the opposite direction — increasingly disengaged from Africa with a policy that is “about to go totally adrift.”

French highlighted the frequent visits to Africa by senior Chinese leaders and how they contrast with the Americans who rarely, if ever, send a cabinet-level official, much less the president himself, to Africa.

Lead the Conversation on China

Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project

Check Out Everything You'll Get With Your Subscription

The China-Global South Daily Brief delivered to your inbox at 6AM Washington time

Full access to exclusive news and analysis from editors based in the Global South

Transcripts of CGSP’s twice-weekly podcasts

Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address are eligible for a 50% discount off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Email us to receive a discount code.

You Might Like

How the U.S. Allegation Over More Chinese Bases in Africa Fits into a Broader U.S. Narrative

The conservative Heritage Foundation’s Senior Policy Analyst for Africa and the Middle East, Joshua Meservey, commented on Friday about the U.S. Defense Department report that included the allegation that China ...

Conservative Think Tank Analysts in DC Want the White House to Formally Recognize Somaliland as a Challenge to China

There are growing calls among prominent conservative foreign policy analysts in Washington, D.C. for the United States to extend formal diplomatic recognition to the self-declared state of Somaliland as a way to confront ...

Equatorial Guinea’s Top Officials Have Been Very Busy Lately Hosting U.S. and Chinese Delegations

Lead the Conversation on China Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.