The China in Africa Podcast

The Kenyan government is under mounting pressure from the United States over its close ties with China. Influential lawmakers in Washington are furious over comments made by President William Ruto during a visit to Beijing earlier this year, where he said Kenya and China will be the "architects of a new world order." The remark was particularly upsetting for some in Washington, given Kenya's role as a Major Non-NATO Ally. Aggrey Mutambo, Africa editor at the Nation newspaper, joins Eric & Cobus from Nairobi to discuss how the Kenyan government is responding and what it's doing to maintain stable ties with both major powers. SHOW NOTES: Aggrey Mutambo's article index at the Nation newspaper. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @agmutambo Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine 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

Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Strategic Studies Center, dives into China's growing role in African security. He discusses China's Global Security Initiative, contrasting it with Western military approaches. Paul highlights how African leaders navigate loans and partnerships while assessing security training from China. The conversation sheds light on the complexities of China-Africa relations, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of security support and diplomatic backing. It's a riveting exploration of how these dynamics shape Africa's future.

Who shapes Africa’s story? Zambia’s media offers a rare window into how local voices frame global powers like China, the U.S., Japan, and South Africa. From debates on debt and development to questions of governance and influence, the coverage reveals both common threads and striking differences with other regions. Natsuko Imai Kanayama, a researcher at the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development in Tokyo joins Eric & Géraud to share insights from her comparative study, highlighting how Zambian media narratives can challenge global assumptions about power, partnerships, and agency. 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 AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat 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

There's a Chinese proverb that says, “If you want to get rich, build a road first.” That philosophy has guided China's development strategy in Africa for much of the past 25 years, that's led to the construction of more than 100,000km of new roads across the continent. We wanted to find out, though, if it's true: does a new road actually pave the way for prosperity, as they say it does? So, we asked Malawi-based journalist Raphael Mweninguwe to visit two highways, the M1 and M26, to speak with local residents and shopkeepers about whether their lives have improved since the Chinese built these highways. Raphael joins Eric from the Malawian capital, Lilongwe, to discuss his report that was published on CGSP this week and explain why the question about whether the road helped improve their lives doesn't have a simple answer. SHOW NOTES: The China-Global South Project: Chinese-Built Roads in Malawi Bring Hope but Not the Riches Many Expected by Raphael Mweninguwe JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat 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    

Over the past week, sharply contrasting images of Chinese engagement in Africa surfaced online. Anger erupted on social media over the release of yet another violent video that shows Congolese soldiers brutally beating local miners purportedly at the behest of Chinese nationals watching in the background. A controversial hour-long documentary by one of Zambia's leading newspapers also sparked a lot of discussion over the labor and environmental records of Chinese mining companies in the country. The Chinese embassy in Lusaka denounced the program as "biased" and containing "hidden motives." Meanwhile, in China, a 15-second teaser of a new blockbuster movie also dropped this week that looks like it's set in a fictitious North African country, while popular Chinese travel vlogger Zhang Jun released a visually stunning 2.5-hour-long documentary on the Congolese fashion scene known as "La Sape." Eric, Géraud & Cobus discuss these various clips and shows that emerged this week and what they reveal about the evolution of China-Africa media narratives. SHOW NOTES: Justicia ABSL: Violent beating of Congolese miners by FARDC soldiers News Diggers: China: The Good, the Bad and the Dangerous Movie Trailer: 用武之地/The Point of No Return The Fashion Bible: Congo’s “La Sape” Fashion Culture Through the Unlikely Lens of a Chinese Vlogger JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque | @christiangeraud Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat 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

A massive $100 million deal sees Sinohydro enhancing Angola's agricultural infrastructure to boost grain production, with 60% destined for China. This comes alongside Citic's $250 million contract to develop large-scale soybean and corn farms. The discussion delves into why these strategic moves are crucial for China as it seeks to reduce its reliance on U.S. imports. Insights into the broader implications for Africa's agricultural landscape and geopolitical tensions provide a compelling backdrop to the story.

Naa Adjekai Adjei, a recent PhD graduate and non-resident fellow at CGSP, dives into the complex dynamics of Chinese investment in Africa's energy sector. She discusses the surge in funding following the pandemic, highlighting how these investments are crucial in addressing energy shortages in sub-Saharan Africa. Adjei also clarifies misconceptions about the role of African governments in negotiating with Chinese entities and emphasizes the importance of capacity building in executing large infrastructure projects.

In this discussion, Anna Gelpern, a legal scholar at Georgetown University, and Brad Parks, director of AidData, dive deep into China's approach to securing loans to developing countries. They debunk the 'debt trap' narrative, revealing there's no evidence of China seizing assets due to unpaid debts. The two experts explore innovative collateral methods, such as future cash flows from infrastructure projects. They also analyze the complexities involved in loan agreements, using case studies from Kenya and Ghana to highlight transparency issues and ethical implications in international finance.

Solange Guo Chatelard is a research associate at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the executive director of the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network. She discusses the evolution of China-Africa research, highlighting how new scholars are integrating local narratives and challenging historical biases. Barriers like funding and institutional dominance remain significant. The conversation also explores the shift in educational perspectives among African students towards opportunities in China, emphasizing the need for 'China literacy' in addressing geopolitical complexities.

Poorva Karkare, a senior policy analyst focused on Africa's industrialization, and Karim Karaki, head of ECDPM's Economic Recovery team, discuss Europe's struggles in the critical minerals market. They emphasize the EU's need for a cohesive policy to foster partnerships in Africa, contrasting it with China’s successful model of combining mining with infrastructure development. The duo reveals the geopolitical stakes in the mineral sector, advocates for strategic collaboration rather than competition with China, and highlights the complexities of investment risks in Africa.