Félix Tshisekedi, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, left for a trip to Beijing last week amid sky-high expectations of both new deals and the significant reworking of current agreements widely seen in his country as favoring Chinese actors. None of this happened.
Instead, he returned with a fistful of non-binding MoUs to widespread dissatisfaction back home. Since then, DRC officials have worked overtime to try and spin the trip as a longer-term ...
Day: May 18, 2022
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 ...
Kenyan Avocado Farmers Will Have to Jump Through One More Hoop Before Exports to China Can Begin
The Kenyan government's years-long effort to export fresh avocados to China ran into yet another obstacle this week when Chinese authorities informed Nairobi that another round of audits will be required before shipments can begin. “We have received communication from China ...
So Far, The New Chinese-Built Nairobi Expressway Isn’t Doing Much to Relieve Traffic Congestion
This is what critics of the new Nairobi Expressway feared would happen: that a select few wealthy motorists would be able to afford the tolls while everyone else is relegated to the side roads that are jammed far beyond capacity.
Nigeria’s China-Friendly Transport Minister Resigns to Run for President
Rotimi Amaechi formally resigned on Tuesday from his position as Nigeria’s minister of transportation. The move is in preparation to compete in Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election, scheduled for February 2023. During his tenure, Amaechi oversaw the transformation of the country’s ...
Stalled Chinese Financing Complicates Buhari’s Infrastructure Legacy
Nigeria’s presidential race is officially on, but many are wondering how China will shape the fortunes of the ruling All Progressives Congress, the party of the current front-runner Rotimi Amaechi, the country's former transport minister. President Muhammadu Buhari came to power on the ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
DRC Government Tries to Reframe Underwhelming Beijing Visit
Engagement Between Chinese Policy Banks and African Governments Continue Despite Funding Pull-Back
The current pull-back in infrastructure financing from Chinese policy banks is scrambling the funding options for African infrastructure. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the reduction in lending is permanent or that Chinese policy banks have lost their interest in the continent. This tweet from Ethiopia's embassy ...
DRC Cobalt Shipments to China Resume Via the Port of Durban
Cargo vessels loaded with Congolese cobalt are once again making their way to China now that port operations in Durban are beginning to recover. The port was shut for weeks after severe floods last month blocked the roads and railways that transport the tons of raw materials that depart from southern ...
Unhappy With Continued Reliance on China for Critical Minerals, U.S. Senators Push Biden to Act
In a rare display of bipartisanship, a group of U.S. Senators this week sent letters to four cabinet members expressing their frustration over the administration's lack of progress in using funds allocated by Congress in the Energy Act of 2020 to ...
“Chinatown is Closed! Close the Shop or We Burn the Shop Down”
A growing anti-immigrant movement in South Africa says it is now targeting not only undocumented immigrants, but even those with residency permits doing low-skilled work. Operation Dudula (“force out” in isiZulu) made clear they are campaigning against both African and Chinese undocumented workers, and ...