Category: Diplomacy
FOCAC 6: China At a Crossroads in Africa
The 6th Forum on China Africa Cooperation is coming at a crossroads in the China-Africa relationship. China’s shift from a manufacturing to a consumption economy means that it is importing fewer African commodities. On the African side, this shift has led to fears about repaying Chinese debt, and a ...
FOCAC 6: This Time It’s Different
When Chinese president Xi Jinping arrives in Johannesburg to lead the upcoming Forum on China Africa Cooperation summit, he will be greeted as an old friend by his African counterparts. There will be smiles, the customary toasts to “win-win development” and a projection of confidence from both sides that ...
The 2015 China-Africa Roundtable at Wits University
Leading scholars, journalists and activists convened in Johannesburg last week for the annual Wits China-Africa Reporting Project's annual roundtable discussion. This year's conference focused on reporting challenges related to the upcoming Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit that will be held in Johannesburg ...
FOCAC: What to Expect at This Year's Mega China-Africa Summit
The 6th Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that will be held in December in Johannesburg comes at critical time in the Sino-African relationship. The combination of China's slowing economy, a major slump in global
China's Risky Oil Strategy in Africa's Sahel Region
Chad is one of the poorest, most corrupt and, increasingly, one of the most volatile countries in Africa. A recent wave of suicide bombings, allegedly orchestrated by Boko Haram, killed 36 and ...
Niger and the Politics of Chinese Oil Deals in Africa
The Chinese-built Soraz oil refinery in southern Niger is now operational again after a 45-day shutdown due to a blown compressor. That Soraz is up and running again will come as welcome relief to the people of Niger who depend ...
South Africa's Inexplicable Love Affair with China
While the recent economic turmoil in China is prompting a number of African countries to reconsider their growing economic dependence on the PRC, not so in South Africa. Both the government and the ruling African National Congress ...
U.S. Not Concerned About Chinese Competition in Africa… But It Probably Should Be
The difference between the U.S. and Chinese foreign policies in Africa was on stark display in July when president Barack Obama made his landmark visits to Kenya and Ethiopia. The president brought along with him a vast agenda that transcended trade, ...
A Kenyan Columnist's Provocative Views on the Chinese in Africa
In Mark Kapchanga's view, the West, particularly the media, really don't understand what the Chinese are doing in Africa. Kapchanga, a provocative Nairobi-based journalist and columnist, isn't shy in arguing his case that on balance China's presence in Africa is net ...
China, Africa and the Indian Ocean: A New Balance of Power
For centuries the Indian Ocean was a vital conduit in the British empire, connecting colonies in South Asia with Africa as part of a vast imperial network. Today, the Indian Ocean once again plays as a vital role in an emerging global trading ...