Local Complicity and Governance Gaps

There's mounting evidence from the United Nations and others that Chinese organized crime syndicates are moving more of their operations from countries in Southeast Asia to Africa. These groups are contributing to a surge in illicit crypto mining, scam centers, illegal wildlife trafficking, and black market weapons sales.

African countries with already weak governance systems are particularly vulnerable.

Géraud speaks with Adam Rousselle, a researcher and author who tracks the illicit arms trade, about his recent article on the topic published by the Jamestown Foundation. Adam explains how all of the different Chinese illegal trade networks in Africa are interlinked with one another.

SHOW NOTES:

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Inflection Point: Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia
• Jamestown Foundation: Illicit PRC-linked Finance Enables Arms Diversion in Africa by Adam Rouselle

CHAPTERS:

• The Illicit Underworld – How illegal mining, logging, and weapons flows shape China–Africa debates
• Individuals vs the State – Why Chinese nationals abroad are often mistaken for Beijing's agents
• South Kivu Gold Trail – What the recent court case reveals about Chinese smuggling networks
• Governance Gaps – How weak enforcement and political protection fuel illicit economies
• Cryptocurrency Networks – The rise of Chinese-linked crypto operations in Nigeria and beyond
• Weapons on the Move – Why Chinese-made guns keep appearing in Africa's conflict zones
• The UAE Hub – How Dubai became the transit point for arms and illicit finance
• The Leaky Bucket – Why illicit flows don't imply coordination or state intent
• Local Complicity – The real role of African politicians, militaries, and brokers
• Reputational Risks for Beijing – Embassy frustrations and the cost of unmanaged actors
• Media Distortions – How U.S. and European narratives simplify complex realities

JOIN THE DISCUSSION:

X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @christiangeraud

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth

Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social

FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH & SPANISH:

• French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine
• Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth