Wema Kibe
published 25 March 2022
Kwame Nkrumah, the former president of Ghana and leading pan-Africanist, referring to neo-colonialism in Africa, stated: “Her [Africa’s] earth is rich, yet the products that come from above and below the soil continue to enrich, not Africans predominantly, but groups and individuals who operate to Africa’s impoverishment.” There are mixed feelings about China’s engagement in Africa. While some are concerned with this association, others are optimistic. Having a history of western colonization, the doubts now extend with China’s new interest in African economies. Sino-African relations however are not a form of neo-colonialism. It can be beneficial to the African countries provided there is an equal partnership between the government and the Chinese business establishments involved.
China and countries in Africa have both struggled under Western colonialization. In the 1960s, “Africa was seen by Beijing as the ground for ideological competition with the United States, the Soviet Union and other European influences” (p.9). At first China’s interest in Africa was ideological, but today that has changed to a commercial interest. In recent years, China has become Africa’s largest trading partner and its main sectors of investment are in mining, finance, construction, and manufacturing. Economically, China does a lot for Africa and this is why the concerned governments are willing to engage. China threw off the yoke of colonization using internal solutions but African governments depended on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, forcing them to adopt neoliberal policies. The relationship China has with African governments can be viewed as favorable because it looks at these countries for mutual gain and they work efficiently without affecting the African government machinery.
Concern arises when China interacts with unstable African governments. Inequalities in trade and business are exaggerated when governments are corrupt, industries are uncompetitive, and economies are unevenly developed. There are examples of this in Sudan and Zimbabwe. In Sudan, the military aid given by China is what encouraged the government to proceed with ethnic cleansing. The Chinese helped Zimbabwe’s military operations despite opposition from international organizations. In these situations, it would be better if China were to follow the lead of the international community. There is a danger for African countries, because for China, “whoever happens to be in power is a friend of China as long as they will guarantee access to resources” (p.88). That is why African leaders need to be responsible and keep each other accountable for the type of support they receive from China and monitor whether it will actually help the larger African population. This would contribute to a healthier relationship with China such that these partnerships turn into a win-win situation.
There is a significant amount of positive investment coming into African countries from China. It does provide low-interest loans with long repayment terms, as well giving jobs to the local people assisted with proper training. Since China’s goal is mostly economic, they are also empowering the people with skills to improve productivity. A prominent example is that of Kenya where its President defended a 27- kilometer expressway built at a cost of about half a billion dollars and a railway to Mombasa, built under partnership with the Chinese. These investments in Kenya have and will make life easier for a lot of people. In other African countries, China is promoting industrial activity through special economic zones and thus attracting investment. “Chinese firms do not seem to be strictly driven by profit-motives, but rather by long-term objectives” (p.10). Chinese investment is important for long term infrastructure and industries that come up in Africa. This will not only lead to the repayment of loans but will also promote economic growth in these countries.
There is nothing wrong with Chinese investment in Africa; it just needs to happen in a way that is genuinely benefiting both parties. The Chinese could be more strategic about the employment opportunities they give to local workers and African governments could dictate the amount of staff that must be locally sourced. This ensures that Africans have control of the employment benefits of Chinese investment. The African Union should organize a forum that brings together African and Chinese non-governmental organizations to improve relations and encourage the exchange of ideas and multiple perspectives on their mutual relations. African universities should promote Chinese Studies departments which would give African students an advantage as they interact with the Chinese. The main concept that should be applied is communication and unity among African countries in keeping each other accountable. Even if an African country’s government may not be completely developed it can still manage and monitor how different actors like the Chinese are affecting their industries and whether they are behaving symbiotically.
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