US overshadowed by China in the continent

Published: April 28,2023

By GERT GROBLER 

MA XUEJING/CHINA DAILY

charm offensive gains little traction as it is aimed at countering Chinese influence not helping Africa

US Vice-President Kamala Harris was the latest of a long list of US dignitaries and officials to visit Africa this year. These visits, in the wake of the US-African Leaders’ Summit held in Washington DC in December last year, are clearly aimed at resetting US relations with African countries and looking to make inroads in Africa to advance its strategic objectives. This US “charm offensive” is also directed at counterbalancing Chinese and Russian influence on the continent.

The frantic diplomatic activity of the United States is a further manifestation of a “new scramble for Africa” as the continent is on the threshold of huge economic transformation and development. It is no wonder that an increasing number of countries are recognizing the continent’s growing economic and demographic weight. It is forecast that Africa’s population will increase to approximately 2.4 billion people by 2050 and that consumer and business spending will rise to roughly $16 trillion in the same year. Africa is also on the cusp of an exciting process of industrialization, closing its infrastructure gap and unleashing its massive agricultural and resource wealth as well as the potential of its digital industry.

On the global geopolitical divide over the Ukraine conflict, Harris played down the “choose the West “imperative that has been to the fore and opted for a more nuanced exchange of views over the consequences of the crisis on trade and energy prices. Although her African hosts welcomed the prospect of closer cooperation with the US, a clear message was conveyed to her, namely, that Africa should have a free choice in its relationships with the rest of the world.

In fact most African countries are justifiably unapologetic about their close ties with China. Africa recoils from being used as a pawn again, in much the same way as it was during the Cold War.

African leaders also informed Harris that the continent does not take kindly to the proposed US Congressional bills and resolutions in Washington DC which seek to punish African countries cooperating with Russia. In fact African countries regard these actions as a blatant and arrogant disregard of their sovereignty.

Only 16 out of Africa’s 54 governments participated in the United States-backed “Summit for Democracy”. Most African countries detest being lectured to on democracy by the West and the continent generally regarded the summit as being instigated by the US with the aim of dividing countries on ideological lines and fueling confrontation under the pretext of democracy.

Although the US has not yet defined a coherent plan, it seems to be contemplating the strengthening of relations based on Africa’s development priorities rather on short-term objectives set by the US, depending on the priorities of the administration in power. However, it is no surprise that many comments on the outcome of Harris’ visit, by African governments and commentators, also given the lack of the required US commitment and broken economic promises in the past, reflected a distinct degree of skepticism about the “new heightened interest by the US in Africa” and whether Washington will deliver on its promises.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to create challenges for the economies of African countries, which are further compounded by the negative implications of the current conflict in Ukraine as well as the uncertain global economic outlook.

Over the years, the US’ role and visibility in Africa have faded considerably, having been overshadowed by countries such as China. China has been eagerly embraced by African countries because of its win-win approach to the continent that upholds non-interference in internal affairs and mutual respect. Most African countries reject the narrative of the US that doing business with China is to Africa’s detriment. China, based on its positive track record on the continent, therefore has a huge advantage over the US through the dynamic Forum on China and Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative.

It is against this background that Africa and China consistently renew their commitment to jointly seek enhanced cooperation on the FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative in order to elevate China-Africa cooperation to an even higher and more strategic level.

Africa strongly supports China’s new type of international relations which emphasizes peaceful coexistence and which upholds the common values of humanity. The continent looks forward to the joint implementation of the constructive Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative as well as to build on the existing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation which has already rendered significant concrete results to the continent.

Chinese entities made direct investments of $44 billion in Africa as of 2020. During 2022, total trade between Africa and China reached $282 billion, up 11 percent year-on-year, reinforcing China’s role as Africa’s biggest bilateral trading partner. That’s more than four times the amount of trade between the US and Africa.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a major driving force in the rapidly growing China and Africa cooperation with 52 African countries as well as the African Union Commission having signed agreements on cooperation under the framework of the initiative. Since the inception of the Belt and Road Initiative 10 years ago, Africa and China have increasingly pursued high-quality projects with concrete economic benefits. A growing number of key Belt and Road projects have been completed. Among others more than 6,000 kilometers of railroads, 6,000 kilometers of highways, 20 ports, more than 80 power facilities, 130 medical facilities and over 170 schools have been built on the African continent.

BRICS cooperation is a further mechanism that Africa and other developing countries and emerging markets regard as a locomotive for global economic recovery and more vigorous development.

During the visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to the AU in Addis Ababa in January this year, AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat emphasized that China has stood with Africa both in its struggle for national independence and liberation and in its efforts to accelerate development and revitalization. He added that Africa looks forward to working with China to jointly advance the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

The following tweet by Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during Harris’ visit, very effectively sums up the depth of China and Africa friendship: “China shows up where and when the West will not and/or are reluctant.”

The author is a senior research fellow at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University and a former senior diplomat in the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. 

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