Month: November 2020
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Dear Mr. Soon-To-Be President-Elect…
It's probably too early to congratulate you since they're still counting ballots in the last few states that'll likely put you over the top. But since the odds now seem in your favor, I thought this would be a good time to share a few ideas about ...
Reuters: Bondholders to Reject Zambia’s Request for Debt Repayment Delay
A source close to the Zambia External Bondholder Committee, a coalition that holds the bulk of Zambia's $3 billion of Eurobonds, told Reuters that investors plan to vote against the government's request for a six-month repayment delay when the group convenes on November 13th.
Africa in the New Era of Great Power Competition Among Europe, China, and the United States
Regardless of who comes out ahead in Tuesday's presidential election in the United States, the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy on the continent will likely not change dramatically and continue to focus on confronting rising Chinese and Russian influence in the region.
Two Totally Different Reactions From the U.S. and China About Tanzania’s Recent Elections
The United States and China have issued starkly different assessments of last week's presidential elections in Tanzania. Incumbent John Magufuli declared victory with 84% of the vote, with some international observers reporting instances of fraud and voter intimidation.
China Takes Its Messaging on Xinjiang to Nigeria, the World’s 5th Largest Muslim Country
China appears to be increasingly confident about promoting its position on Xinjiang in countries that have large Muslim populations, like Nigeria. The Chinese embassy in Abuja on Tuesday posted criticism of U.S. and European accusations that Beijing is persecuting its Uyghur minority population.
The U.S. Elections and the Rest of Us
Welp, here we are. It’s finally November 3. As a non-American, I’m always amazed by the power of American politics to draw in the rest of the world. It isn’t that the rest of us feel involved, exactly. And it isn’t only due to the fact that ...
With Prices Low Again, China To Go on Another Oil Buying Binge That Will Help Some African Countries More Than Others
China's Ministry of Commerce is going to allow private companies and other "non-state entities" to buy 20% more oil next year in a move that will be enthusiastically welcomed by beleaguered oil-producing states, including many in Africa, currently suffering from persistently low prices. ...
Australia’s Billion Dollar Copper Export Business is Now in China’s Crosshairs, Can African Producers Get the Business?
Chinese media is hinting that copper may be the next Australian export to suffer from the worsening dispute between the two countries that began back in April when Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origin of COVID-19. Chinese authorities have already ...
How Does China’s Lending to Africa Compare to That of Other Emerging Market Countries?
London-based emerging markets strategist Gregory Smith posted an interesting thread on Twitter today that compared China's lending patterns in Africa to those of other emerging markets, particularly from the Persian Gulf region. Using World Bank charts, he showed that Chinese lending ...
China, Ethiopia Showcase Ties Following Trump’s “Blow Up the Dam” Comment
There's been a noticeable, albeit slight, increase in China-Ethiopia diplomacy and propaganda this week, prompting some speculation that Beijing may be discreetly moving to take advantage of the fall-out from last week's furor over controversial comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about the Grand Ethiopian ...
A U.S. Military Withdrawal From Somalia Would Only Benefit Russia and China in the Region, Warns Oxford Researcher
President Donald Trump's reported request to withdraw the 650 to 800 U.S. military personnel stationed in Somalia would be a major setback for the U.S. in the Horn of Africa and would bolster Russia and China's growing influence in the region, cautioned Oxford University scholar ...
China’s Cryptocurrency Now Has a Foothold in Places Like Africa With the Introduction of Huawei’s Latest Phone
Huawei unveiled its new Mate 40 smartphone on Friday that for the first time comes preinstalled with a built-in e-wallet that uses China's digital yuan or cryptocurrency. Although the Mate 40 will go on sale in most of Africa's ...