Month: July 2021

So…How have you been? Since we last spoke, my country exploded. If you’re not up on South African news, the current government has finally managed to get a charge to stick to its predecessor – former president Jacob Zuma. This took ...

In what's becoming a predictable routine, high-level representatives from the world's wealthiest countries get together, express anguish over the rapid spread of COVID-19 in developing countries, issue a call for more equitable distribution of vaccines and then restate longstanding positions that bilateral creditors (read China) and bondholders ...

The Chinese government is becoming increasingly impatient with the persistent U.S. criticism that it isn't doing enough to support the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). U.S. officials have steadily increased their critiques in July in the run-up to the G20 finance ministers meeting in Italy that ...

It's been a month since the G7 unveiled its new "Build Back Better World" (B3W) initiative that aims to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative by providing an alternative source of infrastructure development financing that is presumably more transparent and sustainable. So far, ...

U.S. and European officials are now more aligned than they've been in years in their determination to challenge China's growing influence in Africa and other regions throughout the Global South. And while Western leaders have clearly articulated their desire to confront China, turning rhetoric into action is ...

Nigeria's outspoken transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi delivered a blunt message to local construction companies who've long complained that they're shut out of bids for the large infrastructure projects that often go to Chinese contractors: "We are not using our local contractors because they are not ...

The Chinese embassy in Harare came to the defense of a local Chinese tile company accused of forcing its employees to endure “slave-like working conditions.” The embassy published a statement on its website that challenged the authenticity of videos that have been circulating depicting the poor ...

Videos of brawls between expatriate Chinese managers and local employees in African countries are surfacing with increasing frequency. On June 30th, a fight broke out between a Congolese employee at the Tenke Fungurumé Mining company in Kowlezi and his Chinese manager over the worker's reported frustration about poor ...

For the second time in just three years, Chinese expatriate businessman Liu Zhiyong has been granted an honorary chieftaincy title in Nigeria's Lagos state. Liu received his latest title last month from Chief Gbobaniyi (photo) for his contributions to the local economy and development in Lagos State. 

Agriculture remains the backbone of many African economies since it accounts for approximately 60% of all employment, a main earner of foreign exchange, source of both savings and tax revenues and accounts for around 40% of the continent’s hard currency. The agricultural sector is the main source ...

It's not obvious, but when it comes to managing ties with China, countries in Central Asia and Africa have a lot more in common with one another than many would first assume.  Both are among ...

The White House's point person on G7 and G20 affairs, Daleep Singh, singled out China for the failures of the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). "The DSSI and the Common Framework is not impactful enough right now," said Singh during an online discussion ...