Italy has announced its formal withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative after joining the China-centered infrastructure and investment project in 2019.
The timing of the announcement that Rome won’t renew its BRI commitment is notable. It came only a day before the EU-China summit, which kicks off on Thursday. The summit will likely be more contentious than usual, with European leaders expected to push China on the treatment of EU firms amid discussions ...
Day: March 25, 2020
It’s Time to Talk About All That Debt
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took the initiative on Tuesday to talk about the proverbial elephant in the room: with Africa's economies spiraling downwards due to the worsening COVID-19 crisis, how are they ever going to be able to pay back all that money they owe ...
DRC President’s Refusal to Wear Mask in Meeting With Chinese Ambassador Sparks Concern
China's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo met with President Félix Tshisekedi yesterday in Kinshasa and while they did maintain a proper distance from one another, the president's refusal to wear a mask prompted concern among Congolese Twitter users. ...
African Twitter Responds to Hantavirus Death in China
A Tweet by the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper about a man dying from Hantavirus on a bus going to Shandong province in China sparked fears -- unfounded -- on African Twitter of "Coronavirus 2.0." ...
Fake COVID-19 News and Misinformation Now Rampant on African WhatsApp Channels and Social Media
With COVID-19 now steadily making its way across Africa, misleading or downright false information is becoming an increasingly serious problem across the continent. Posts like this one warn Africans on Twitter and WhatsApp about buying used mattresses from China because they are infected with the deadly virus. ...
Joy and Relief as Jack Ma’s Donated Masks and COVID-19 Test Kits Make Their Way to Countries Across Africa
Ethiopian Airlines jets packed with medical supplies donated by Chinese billionaire and philanthropist Jack Ma landed at airports across Africa yesterday. Each country is to receive an equal allocation of masks, COVID-19 testing kits and protective wear for medical personnel. ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Awkward Timing as Italy Withdraws from BRI
Ethiopian PM Abiy Puts Debt Relief on the COVID-19 Agenda. Now the Multi-Billion Dollar Question is How Will China Respond?
Confronted with an "existential threat," Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed issued an urgent plea to G20 countries for immediate debt relief. The "dramatic decline in exports, disruption of global chains, and the sudden drying up of travel of tourism are sure to wreak havoc to our economies,"