A New Era in China–Africa Relations: Opportunities and Risks

The 9th summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing on 4–6 September.

With strong turnout from African leaders, the FOCAC summit eclipsed the Indonesia–Africa Forum that had taken place only days earlier (1–3 September). At the opening session, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $51 billion (360 billion yuan) in new financing and promised “at least one million jobs” for African partners.
Observers regard this summit as a critical turning point for rethinking China’s strategy in Africa.

Launched in Beijing in 2000 as a cornerstone of Beijing’s Africa strategy, FOCAC meets every three years, alternating between China and Africa. This year’s gathering was the first full in-person summit since the pandemic. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the event as the largest diplomatic meeting the country has held in recent years and the conference with the greatest number of foreign leaders in attendance.

Under the forum’s theme—“Advance Modernization and Build a China–Africa Community with a Shared Future”—Beijing announced that many African countries would be allowed to export to China duty-free. Experts say that with this summit China appears to be shifting its focus: rather than concentrating primarily on lending to governments and funding infrastructure, Beijing aims to strengthen its position in the mining sector and secure critical minerals.

In the run-up to the summit, several related meetings were held—among them the China–Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Dar es Salaam in March 2024—and countries such as Kenya, Namibia and Uganda staged investor roadshows to attract Chinese capital.

The Roots of China–Africa Relations

China’s diplomatic outreach to Africa can be traced back to the Bandung Conference (18–24 April 1955), which laid the foundations of the Non-Aligned Movement. Delegations from Asia and Africa who met in Bandung embraced new, post-colonial visions of global order and helped shape a solidaristic South–South framework.
FOCAC, established in 2000, further institutionalized Beijing’s engagement in Africa. Thanks to its concerted efforts, China rose quickly as a global partner: by the 2000s it surpassed traditional Western partners in many African markets, and its economic footprint on the continent deepened—China’s annual trade with Africa now exceeds $200 billion. Today, more than 3,000 Chinese firms operate across the continent.

What China Is Doing in Africa

China is the continent’s leading investor in construction, mining, transport and energy. Roughly a quarter of Africa’s road, rail and power infrastructure projects involve Chinese capital. China also plays a major role in maritime infrastructure: since 2000 it has been involved in constructing around a hundred ports across Africa.

Energy stands out in Sino-African trade; China sources about a quarter of its energy needs from the continent. According to various estimates, China has invested in thousands of kilometres of rail and road and has financed numerous power plants—activities that Beijing presents as critical for Africa’s development and job creation.

Yet on the ground many projects employ Chinese labour and managers; senior positions are frequently filled by Chinese specialists. Critics argue that this model benefits China’s domestic employment and know-how transfer more than it creates lasting, high-skilled opportunities for local workers. Reports of poor working conditions and labour disputes in some Chinese-led ventures have also provoked controversy.

Beyond economics, China is expanding soft-power and security ties with Africa: medical aid and vaccine deliveries during COVID-19, hospital ships offering free services, Confucius Institutes promoting language and culture, academic scholarships, and the state-run CGTN Africa bureau (opened in Nairobi in 2012) are all parts of Beijing’s broader engagement. Militarily, China has increased arms exports to the continent and established a logistics base in Djibouti in 2016—another indication of Beijing’s growing security footprint.

Opportunities and Risks in China’s Strategy

China’s massive investments, its soft-power outreach, and the absence of a colonial past—at least rhetorically—explain why many African leaders greet Beijing positively. For governments long frustrated by perceived Western paternalism, China’s “no-strings” approach and rapid delivery of infrastructure projects appear attractive.

But the advantages come with significant risks. Beijing’s human-rights record and authoritarian model raise serious concerns, especially given the documented repression in Xinjiang and other internal abuses. Observers warn that China’s model—cheap extraction of raw materials, centralized control of value chains, and significant financial leverage—resembles in practice a new form of external dominance. China controls a substantial share of global processing for several rare earths and strategic minerals, many of which are sourced from African deposits.

Debt is another flashpoint. Critics argue that large loans without transparent terms make borrowing countries vulnerable. While China occasionally cancels or restructures debt, there are numerous cases where inability to meet repayments has led to Chinese involvement in the management of strategic assets—ports, mines and transport hubs—fueling accusations of “debt-trap diplomacy.” Between 2000 and 2023, China has reportedly extended over $170 billion in loans to nearly all of Africa’s 54 countries.

A Call for a Balanced Approach

African countries need a cautious, strategic stance that neither demonizes nor uncritically embraces foreign partners. While China offers speed, capital and scale, African leadership must ensure projects are consistent with national development goals, provide sustainable employment, allow technology and skills transfer, and respect environmental and labour standards.

As Zambian politician Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe warned, “If we do not manage our independence well, the colonizers will return as investors.” This cautionary note should guide policymakers: external investments should be welcomed, but not at the cost of long-term sovereignty and domestic capacity building.

African leaders must move beyond a dependency mindset and harness the continent’s vast potential by negotiating partnerships that genuinely deliver mutual benefit. In doing so, Africa can regain leverage over its resources and destiny, strengthening its position in a multipolar world.

Original publication: Independent Türkçe — published 19 September 2024.

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