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WEEK IN REVIEW: Why Angola is the “Vietnam of Africa”

Angolan President João Lourenço returned from a three-day visit to China loaded with goodies. He secured an upgrade in diplomatic ties, promises of new investment and, most importantly, a major reduction in monthly debt payments. ...

Key Policy Differences Emerge on Day 1 of BRICS Summit

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pushed back against the suggestion that the BRICS group should become an ideological opponent against the West. "We do not want to be a counterpoint to the G7, G20 or the United States," Brazil's Lula 

South Africa Urges Caution on BRICS Currency as Global Yuan Use Creeps Up

The BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will discuss the feasibility of a joint currency at an upcoming summit in Johannesburg in August. Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, acknowledged that scheduling the discussion was prompted by calls from member states to move away ...

Now It’s the EU’s Turn to Try and Change South Africa’s Mind About Russia and Upcoming Joint Naval Exercises With China

The European Union's top foreign policy official Josep Borrell is the latest foreign dignitary to pass through Pretoria in what appears to be a vain effort to persuade South Africa's international relations minister Naledi Pandor to reconsider Pretoria's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and upcoming joint naval ...

Lavrov Visit and Upcoming Joint Naval Exercises With China Spark Anger in South Africa

The South African government is coming under intense criticism for welcoming Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and for next month's joint naval exercises with both Russia and China. SA Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor dismissed the criticism on Monday at a press conference ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

2026: Africa-China Relations in a World Shaped by North-South Geopolitics

When talking about Africa–China relations, one is always moving along a sliding scale. There are myriad interactions with Chinese entities that concern only individual African countries, segueing into trends affecting the whole continent and sliding further into global dynamics shaping the developing world, of which Africa is the heart.

The Africa-China relationship is its own thing, but Africa’s fate can’t easily be separated from factors affecting the wider Global South, ...