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The Top Commander for U.S. Forces in Africa Was Asked if China and Russia Are Involved in the Recent Wave of Coups

by Eric Olander
U.S. Army General Stephen J. Townsend. Image via Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Smith Credit: 50th Public Affairs Detachment

General Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is well known for his oft-stated concern about China’s presence in Africa and the destabilizing role that he feels Beijing plays on the continent.

So, when journalist Simon Ateba, the Washington, D.C. correspondent for Today News Africa asked Townsend at a virtual press conference last week whether there was any evidence of Chinese or Russian involvement in the recent toppling of multiple governments in Africa, it wasn’t immediately clear how he would answer (especially since the General often makes unsupported assertions about China):

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