Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

Day: February 25, 2020

Tweet of the Day: It’s Been a Good Week for Huawei in Africa

Just days after Safaricom acting CEO Michael Joseph brushed off U.S. concerns about using Huawei equipment on its new 5G network in Kenya, the Chinese telecom giant also received good press in Nigeria for the company's corporate social responsibility initiatives.

“Washington Can do Better Than China-bashing and Travel Bans”

One week after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrapped up his three-nation African tour, a number of reviews considering the direction of Washington's current foreign policy in Africa are just coming in. There's an emerging consensus among a growing number of policy and media observers that ...

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Recent Trip to Africa Didn’t Make a Lot of News… And That’s a Good Thing

One of Washington's leading Africa analysts, Judd Devermont at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, published a short Q&A that reflected on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent three-nation African tour that wrapped up last week. Devermont's key ...

Africa’s Largest Bank Makes Donation to Support the Fight Against COVID-19

Africa's largest bank, South Africa-based Standard Bank, made a $50,000 donation to the COVID-19 relief effort in China. Sim Tshabalala, CEO of Standard Bank South Africa made the donation on Monday during a ceremony with Chinese Ambassador Lin Songtian. It's worth noting ...

Black Monday in Johannesburg: The JSE Had One of Its Worst Trading Days in 20 Years Over Mounting COVID-19 Concerns

Share prices on Africa's leading index, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, plummeted on Monday amid surging investor fear over the economic damage caused by the escalating COVID-19 crisis.  The JSE shed 4.5% in trading yesterday, making it one ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

Q&A: Africa’s Role in China’s Global Military Expansion: Defense Expert Unpacks a Thorny Issue

The head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John Aquilino, on Tuesday added to the growing alarm in Washington DC defense circles about the global reach of China’s military. 

Speaking in front of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, Aquilino said China is building capacity to seize Taiwan, and: “The PRC also seeks to establish a network of overseas military installations that would extend its reach, allowing support for an increasingly global People’s Liberation ...

China Announces Sweeping Ban of Eating and Trading Wildlife

China's top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), announced a sweeping ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals as part of the effort to stem the deadly COVID-19 outbreak that has crippled the country. ...

China’s Growing Influence in the Mideast, Persian Gulf & Mediterranean

China's crude imports from Saudi Arabia surged last year by 47% highlighting the Kingdom's growing importance to Beijing as a key oil supplier. This should also be concerning for Africa because the Chinese no longer feel as dependent on the ...