Advertise on podcast: The China in Africa Podcast

South Africa's exclusion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) marks a turning point in its economic relationship with the United States, putting an estimated 100,000 jobs and $1.7 billion in exports at risk. As trade tensions deepen, Pretoria is accelerating efforts to diversify its economic partnerships, with China increasingly central to that shift. But replacing one trading partner with another carries its own risks. Persistent trade imbalances, dependence on mineral exports and limited access to high-value markets raise questions about the benefits of deeper economic ties with China. Meanwhile, proposals to connect the Benguela and TAZARA railways point to a broader ambition to strengthen African trade and continental integration. Cobus, Geraud and Eric discuss South Africa's changing trade relationships, China's expanding manufacturing footprint in Africa, and the future of regional infrastructure and intra-African trade. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode Africa's Shrinking Access to Western Markets China's Expanding Trade and Manufacturing Footprint Across Africa African Trade Integration and New Regional Railway Corridors Rebalancing China-Africa Trade and Economic Relations Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque |  @cgneema  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

South Africa's trade relations with the United States are under strain, threatening its access to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). As Washington weaponizes tariffs and market access, Pretoria faces mounting pressure to diversify its economic partnerships. Beijing's zero-tariff initiative offers African exporters new opportunities, but China-Africa trade remains heavily concentrated in raw materials. For African governments, the challenge is to turn strategic resources, critical minerals and geographic advantages into genuine economic leverage through industrialization, regional integration and stronger domestic capabilities. Diversifying international partnerships will require more than diplomatic maneuvering; it demands the infrastructure, skilled workforces and political coordination to capture greater value. Ronak Gopaldas, Director at geopolitical risk consultancy Signal Risk and Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics, joins Eric and Geraud to discuss great-power competition in Africa, South Africa's trade dilemma, and how African countries can leverage U.S.-China rivalry to advance their economic interests. 📌 Topics covered in this episode: South Africa's Trade Ties With Washington Strained AGOA Access and Washington's Use of Tariffs China's Zero-Tariff Initiative and African Export Opportunities China-Africa Trade and the Challenge of Industrialization Africa's Economic Diversification Amid U.S.-China Competition Intensifies Regional Integration and Building Domestic Industrial Capacity Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @RonakGopaldas | @cgneema |  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

Africa is projected to grow by 4.6% in 2026, potentially outpacing China for the first time in decades. But faster GDP growth does not necessarily translate into rising living standards. Resource-dependent economies, persistent extreme poverty and rapid population growth continue to limit the gains ordinary Africans see from economic expansion. Industrialization presents another challenge as Chinese manufacturers dominate global production and African countries remain heavily dependent on commodity exports. Building regional markets, processing critical minerals locally and leveraging Chinese investment could help diversify African economies. The challenge is creating enough productive jobs for millions of young people entering the workforce while navigating an increasingly polarized global order. Jakkie Cilliers, head of the Africa Futures and Innovation Program at the Institute for Security Studies, joins us to discuss Africa's path to prosperity and how African countries can balance economic development, political stability and democracy. Show Notes: Amazon: Africa's Road to Prosperity: 10 Things to Know by Jakkie Cilliers Financial Times: Can Africa outgrow China? by David Pilling 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode Africa's Growth Boom: Why Prosperity Remains Elusive Can Africa Industrialize While China Dominates Manufacturing? China, Critical Minerals, and Africa's Industrial Future Africa's Demographic Dividend and the Battle for Jobs Democracy, Stability, and Africa's Path to Prosperity Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque | @cgneema | @JakkieCilliers Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

China is deepening its engagement with Africa as geopolitical competition intensifies, with President Xi Jinping meeting the leaders of Botswana and Togo in Beijing. The visits highlight Beijing's sustained diplomatic outreach and growing interest in African copper supplies, alongside its push to strengthen trade and mining partnerships. Yet access to mineral wealth does not automatically translate into economic development. African governments face the challenge of converting mining revenues and value addition into industrial diversification, infrastructure and jobs. In the energy sector, Chinese investment could also help connect national electricity grids, but realizing that potential will require stronger regional coordination and planning. In this week's episode of the CGSP Roundtable, Eric, Geraud and Cobus discuss China-Africa diplomacy, strategies for maximizing Chinese investment in electricity integration, and the continuing debate over China's role in Africa's debt burden. Show Notes: YouTube: The 'China Debt Trap' Was Never Real. Here's What's Actually Happening by Uptin SAIIA: Expanding China's Role in Africa's Electricity Integration by Cobus van Staden 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode China Deepens Diplomatic Engagement With African Leaders Botswana's Copper Reserves and China's Mineral Strategy Who Benefits From Africa's Mineral Wealth? China's Role in Africa's Future Electricity Grid Rethinking China's Role in Africa's Debt Crisis Why the China Debt Trap Narrative Persists Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque |  @cgneema  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

China-Africa security cooperation is expanding beyond military ties into cross-border law enforcement, as Chinese-linked telecom fraud operations spread across Africa. Joint investigations, intelligence sharing and police partnerships are becoming increasingly important as governments confront scams targeting victims worldwide, including in China and the United States. Meanwhile, Africa's new credit ratings agency aims to challenge assessments that critics say overstate the continent's investment risks and increase borrowing costs. Its influence will depend on whether investors and banks accept its methodology, including in China's capital markets. Both developments reflect a broader push to strengthen African agency and reshape international systems, even as China's engagement shifts toward more targeted cooperation rather than headline-grabbing loans. Géraud Neema, Eric Olander and Cobus van Staden discuss China-Africa police cooperation, the credibility of Africa's new credit ratings agency, and what these shifts could mean for the next Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode China-Africa Police Cooperation and Telecom Fraud Chinese Law Enforcement's Expanding Role in Africa  Africa's New Credit Ratings Agency Explained Can African Credit Ratings Challenge Western Financial Power? What to Expect From the Next FOCAC Summit Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque |  @cgneema  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

The DRC's cobalt industry is also moving uranium through global supply chains, creating a problem that extends beyond critical-minerals security. Researchers estimate that 2,000–5,000 tons of uranium may have left the country as a byproduct of cobalt production, raising questions about nuclear-security risks, environmental exposure, and the traceability of mineral exports. The challenge is persistent rather than catastrophic: uranium occurs naturally alongside DRC cobalt and can remain in cobalt hydroxide even when companies follow existing processing standards. Weak shipment-level monitoring and inconsistent reporting leave uncertainty over where the uranium goes and how it is handled after reaching China and other markets. Ryan Manzuk, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Program on Science and Global Security, joins Cobus and Geraud to analyze uranium contamination in DRC cobalt exports, including nuclear-security implications, environmental and worker exposure, and measures to improve traceability and local processing. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode Uranium contamination in DRC cobalt exports China's role in cobalt supply chains Nuclear security risks from uranium exports Environmental and health risks for miners Traceability, regulation, and local processing Show Notes Nature Communications: Uranium in cobalt-hydroxide exports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Ryan A. Manzuk & Sébastien Philippe Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @stadenesque |  @cgneema  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

China's engagement across Africa is increasingly shaped by both high-level geopolitics and competition in everyday markets. Somalia's renewed ties with Beijing are being driven in part by the Somaliland question, particularly its growing relationship with Taiwan. At the same time, Chinese companies continue expanding their commercial footprint across the continent. The U.S.-China technology contest is also playing out in Africa, but the scale of investment highlights a significant gap between American initiatives such as Africell and China's established ICT infrastructure footprint. Meanwhile, Chinese automakers are rapidly gaining ground in South Africa, while electric two-wheelers could reshape mobility and the gig economy across African cities. Eric Olander, Geraud Neema and Cobus van Staden examine what these developments reveal about China's changing role in Africa, from the strategic importance of Somaliland and Taiwan to the realities of competing with Chinese technology and adapting to African consumers. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode: China-Somalia ties and the Somaliland question U.S.-China competition over African telecom infrastructure Chinese electric vehicles and Africa's mobility future Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque |  @cgneema  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

Kenya's crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses has put Chinese traders at the center of a wider debate over competition, immigration, and economic opportunity. President William Ruto's targeting of foreign merchants has raised concerns about xenophobia while exposing deeper frustrations over how Chinese businesses operate in Kenya's informal economy. China's role in Africa is also expanding beyond trade. Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt highlighted Beijing's push for a greater role in Middle East and African security, while Chinese drones, weapons, and military training are gaining ground across the continent. At the same time, China's engagement is being framed through competing narratives of influence and "empire." This week, we have a Roundtable episode where we look at China's evolving role in Africa, including Kenya's crackdown, China-Egypt relations, and the growth of Chinese arms sales. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode: Kenya's crackdown on foreign small businesses Chinese traders and concerns over unfair competition Xi Jinping's Egypt visit and China's push for a greater security role The Global Civilization Initiative and China's engagement with the Global South Chinese drones and arms sales across Africa African countries diversifying their military partnerships for greater strategic autonomy Challenging narratives about Chinese influence, debt, and African agency Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque |  @cgneema  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

China's influence in Africa's media landscape increasingly operates through content-sharing agreements, journalist training, paid placements, and support for local broadcasters. These "below-the-line" strategies give Chinese narratives a pathway into African newsrooms that extends well beyond the reach of traditional state outlets such as CGTN and Xinhua. But the push for greater Chinese influence raises a deeper question about decolonization. While Beijing presents its media engagement as an alternative to Western dominance, African journalists can be exposed to models of reporting that do not necessarily fit local political and social realities. At the same time, the shift toward social media makes the actual impact of these efforts increasingly difficult to measure. Emeka Umejei, a Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, joins Eric and Cobus to discuss the arguments from his book China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization, content-sharing agreements, journalist training, and the future of African media independence. Show Notes China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization by Emeka Umejei 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode China's evolving media influence across Africa The rise of content-sharing agreements with African news outlets Journalist training, media exchanges, and the spread of Chinese reporting models The tension between China's "decolonization" narrative and African media independence How Chinese economic engagement strengthens its media influence The shift toward social media and the uncertain impact of foreign media campaigns on African audiences Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander I @stadenesque I @emekaumejei Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: chinaglobalsouth  Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish: French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

China-Africa trade is surging and could top $400 billion this year, but the headline figure obscures a relationship that remains heavily concentrated among a small number of countries and increasingly tilted toward Chinese exports. Much of what Africa sells to China is still made up of commodities and raw materials, while Chinese exports increasingly include machinery, chemicals, components, and other intermediate goods that can support local manufacturing and industrial development. The bigger question is whether African countries should focus less on trying to eliminate trade deficits with China and more on using cheaper Chinese inputs, improving their domestic business environments, and expanding intra-African trade to build stronger and more competitive economies. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode: 🇨🇳 China-Africa trade heading toward record highs ⚖️ Understanding Africa's widening trade deficit with China 🏭 How Chinese intermediate goods can support African industrialization 📦 Why African exports to China remain dominated by raw materials 🌍 Using intra-African trade to strengthen African economies 💰 Whether China's zero-tariff policy can really change the trade relationship Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque |  @cgneema  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

Quite often, foreign leaders travel to China without a clear strategy for turning high-level diplomacy into tangible economic gains. This was on display earlier this year when U.S. President Donald Trump's much-hyped summit yielded few actionable outcomes. Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took a different approach during her visit to Beijing in July. She arrived with specific priorities, a clear understanding of Namibia's leverage, and a strong focus on investment, value addition, and job creation. Ovigwe Eguegu and Huiyi Chen, policy analysts at the international development consultancy Development Reimagined, argued in a column published in The Diplomat that Nandi-Ndaitwah's approach offers important lessons for other leaders, particularly in Africa, on how to turn high-level visits to China into meaningful outcomes. They join Eric and Geraud to discuss those lessons and what other African governments can learn from Namibia's approach. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode: 🇳🇦 Namibia's strategy for engaging China 🇨🇳 Turning high-level diplomacy into tangible outcomes 💰 Attracting Chinese investment and financing 🏭 Promoting value addition and industrialization 💼 Creating jobs through strategic partnerships ♟️ Understanding and leveraging Africa's bargaining power 🌍 Lessons for other African leaders engaging Beijing Show Notes: The Diplomat: As the World Courts Beijing, Namibia Shows How Africa Can Sharpen Its China Strategy by Ovigwe Eguegu and Huiyi Chen The China-Global South Project: Tshisekedi's Trip to China Was a Total Waste of Time and It's His Fault by Eric Olander South China Morning Post: Why Kenyan President Ruto's visit is a 'symbolic' win for China as US tariffs rock world by Jevans Nyabiage Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

China's popularity across Africa remains strong, with new Afrobarometer polling showing Beijing again outperforming the U.S. and Europe in public perception. But those favorable views are far from straightforward, shaped by perceptions of China's development success, frustration with Western powers, and Africans' own experiences with Chinese engagement. Ebenezer Obadare, the Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Eric & Cobus to unpack what the polling reveals about China's enduring appeal and shifting African views of the U.S. and Europe. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode: 🇨🇳 Why China remains popular across Africa 📊 What Afrobarometer's latest polling reveals 🇺🇸 Changing African views of the U.S. and Europe 🏗️ The appeal of China's development model 🤝 How Chinese engagement shapes perceptions 🌍 Why U.S.-China rivalry isn't zero-sum in Africa Show Notes: Afrobarometer: African insights 2026: Beyond borders: Citizen perspectives on a shifting global order The Africa Report: Poll: US lags behind China in African hearts and minds by Julian Pecquet Foreign Affairs: How China Is Winning Friends and Influencing People by Eric Olander and Lizzi Lee Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

Young Africans increasingly see China as an important partner, but their support comes with clear expectations about what that relationship should deliver, according to findings from the recently published 2026 African Youth Survey. China's infrastructure, investment, and visible economic presence have strengthened its standing, but young Africans increasingly expect that engagement to translate into high-value jobs, industrialization, skills, and greater benefits from the continent's resources. Ivor Ichikowitz, chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, joins Eric and Cobus to unpack the latest African Youth Survey and what it reveals about a more assertive generation that values China's engagement while insisting that the relationship evolve on Africa's terms. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode 🇨🇳 Why China resonates with African youth 🌍 Pragmatism over geopolitical loyalty 💼 Demand for better jobs and industrialization ⛏️ Keeping more value from Africa's resources 🗳️ Frustration with governance and political systems ✊🏾 A more confident generation asserting African agency Show Notes: The Ichikowitz Family Foundation: 2026 African Youth Survey South China Morning Post: Practical' young Africans leaning towards China over US and away from ideology by Jevans Nyabiage Bloomberg: China Bolsters its Influence Over Africa's Youth, Survey Shows by Antony Sguazzin and Rene Vollgraaff Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

China is moving quickly to expand its influence over global governance as the United States steps back from its traditional leadership role. Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping unveiled the World Artificial Intelligence Organization, a new Shanghai-based institution with 29 founding members, most from Asia and Africa, that Beijing hopes will help shape the global rules governing AI. The new organization is the latest in a series of Chinese initiatives aimed at reshaping the international order to better reflect Beijing's priorities. Through efforts such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and now the WAIO, China is positioning itself not just as a participant in the existing system, but as an architect of new global rules. Yu Jie, a senior research fellow on China at Chatham House in London, joins Eric to discuss whether Beijing can turn its diplomatic ambitions into lasting influence and why many countries in the Global South are receptive to China's vision. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode China's vision for reshaping global governance Why AI is central to Beijing's diplomatic strategy The World Artificial Intelligence Organization (WAIO) Why the Global South is embracing China's initiatives Can China match its ambitions with resources? How Beijing's approach differs from the West Show Notes: Chatham House: China sets out its vision for a new global order – but will it commit the resources to match its ambition? by Yu Jie The Diplomat: With New AI Governance Organization, China Seeks to Formalize Its Global AI Influence by Michael Caster The China-Global South Project: For China, the Race for AI Supremacy Runs Through the Global South by Eric Olander 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 Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

There's growing optimism across Africa, Latin America, and Asia that abundant reserves of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel can fuel a new era of economic development. Determined to avoid the "resource curse" that enriched foreign companies while leaving local populations behind, governments are increasingly moving to ban exports of raw ores and instead promote domestic processing and refining. It's an appealing strategy, but far more difficult to implement than many realize. Wei Shen and Anabel Marín, senior research fellows at the Institute of Development Studies in London, argue that processing alone won't transform resource-rich economies. In a new paper, they explain why lasting prosperity depends on building the knowledge, institutions, and technological capabilities needed to move up the value chain. They join Eric to discuss what it will really take for developing countries to turn critical mineral wealth into sustainable development. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode Why critical minerals alone won't create prosperity Can resource nationalism break the resource curse? Why processing isn't enough to move up the value chain The role of knowledge and state capacity in development What China got right in building its mineral industry How developing countries can capture more value from critical minerals Show Notes: WATCH: Critical minerals and development: Breaking the structural impasse with Wei Shen and Anabel Marín Institute of Development Studies: China's role in critical mineral mining and its impacts by Wei Shen Institute of Development Studies: Living in a material world: What critical minerals mean for development by Wei Shen and Anabel Marín Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @christiangeraud | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:  French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas