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As the 2025 draws to a close, which key moments and milestones have defined the China- Africa relations? Despite the challenges faced in various sectors, how have the relations evolved and what impact has this had? In this episode, Professors Liu Baocheng, Director of Center of International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, and Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Center for China Studies in Nigeria delve into the key moments and milestones that shaped China-Africa relations in 2025.
In this special year-end edition of The China in Africa Podcast, Eric, Cobus, and Géraud look back on the top stories of 2025 and look ahead to the key trend to watch in 2026.
As we approach the end of 2025, it's a meaningful moment to pause and reflect on how the China-Africa partnership has evolved over the past year. In this special episode, three young and inspiring guests working on the frontline of China-Africa cooperation join us to share their personal experiences and stories, offering a clearer and more vivid picture of how this important partnership is growing and transforming.
Attending as guest of honor at the 11th Global Tourism Economy Forum held in Harbin, Zimbabwe draws insights from China's culture-driven tourism model. We speak with Stanley Banda, Zimbabwe's Tourism Attaché to China and ASEAN, on key takeaways from the forum and opportunities for deeper China-Africa tourism cooperation
Africa's industrialization push is colliding with the defining economic question of this era: how can any country or region climb the manufacturing value chain so long as China dominates industrial production of pretty much, well, everything? But even if overcoming the China question is possible, African leaders then face a second, more daunting obstacle: infrastructure. The lack of reliable power, water, roads, and other infrastructure necessary to support industrialization is severe in many parts of the continent. A new book by Professor Carlos Oya, a preeminent China-Africa scholar at the University of London, details China's complex role in Africa's pursuit of industrialization. Eric & Cobus speak with Carlos about how China is simultaneously a big challenge and an important part of the solution. Topics covered Why industrialization is back at the center of African economic strategy The infrastructure constraint: electricity costs, reliability, and targeted hubs Ethiopia's experience: what worked, what didn't, and why it mattered China's evolving role: from policy-bank infrastructure to private manufacturing plays The evidence on "Chinese labor" myths and what research actually shows Download the book (free): Cambridge University Press: China for Africa's Industrialization? by Carlos Oya 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 Spanish: French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas Join us 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
China and Africa are working together to realize the right to development. Professor Liu Hongwu, Director of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, explains why development-centered human rights lie at the heart of China-Africa collaboration and how this approach aligns with Africa's own priorities.
The revitalization of the TAZARA railway, a landmark project of China-Africa friendship, has officially begun. Following a high-level groundbreaking ceremony, this modernized "Freedom Railway" is poised to enhance regional connectivity and inject new momentum into the economic development of Tanzania, Zambia, and the broader region.
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
In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Cobus van Staden, Managing Editor of the China Global South Project, host of the China in Africa podcast, and a leading scholar of China–Africa relations. Ahead of President Xi's probable trip to Johannesburg for the G20 Summit, they unpack China's Africa strategy as well as China's bilateral ties with South Africa. Henrietta and Cobus discuss Beijing's diplomatic ground game, key trends in Chinese investment and BRI projects in Africa, how China's slowing economy is shaping its engagement, and what China is ultimately seeking to achieve on the continent.
FOCAC Outlook: Why Beijings Summit Could Deliver Big Wins For China Africa Ties | China Daily Ep9 by Capital FM
Ten years ago, African news coverage of China's engagement on the continent was often quite negative and repackaged many of the critical Western narratives. Today, the situation is very different. China has spent considerable resources cultivating closer ties with African news outlets. Through a combination of journalist junkets, so-called "content sharing agreements," and Chinese equipment donations to African state broadcasters, Beijing has been very effective in generating much more positive coverage. In this special episode from the African Investigative Journalism Conference at Wits University in Johannesburg, Eric & Cobus speak with Aggrey Mutambo, Africa editor at the Daily Nation newspaper in Kenya, about the changing Chinese narrative in the African news media. CHAPTERS: • Introduction – From Johannesburg and the African Investigative Journalism Conference • A Decade of Change – How China's media image in Africa evolved • Shifting Narratives – From Western framing to African perspectives • Building Influence – Beijing's strategy for cultivating local journalists • The Tools of Soft Power – Junkets, content sharing, and equipment donations • Inside the Newsroom – How editors like Aggrey Mutambo see China coverage now • Competing Stories – Western skepticism vs. Chinese engagement • Frustration with the West – Why African journalists are rethinking narratives • The Xinjiang Question – How African reporters interpret Chinese messaging • Development and Delivery – The appeal of China's efficiency model • Trade, Trust, and Strategy – What Kenya and South Africa want from Beijing • The Next Chapter – What balanced China–Africa journalism could look like 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
Rwanda has participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) since its inception in 2018, leveraging the platform to bring its exceptional coffee, chilies, and handicrafts into countless Chinese households. Rwandan Ambassador to China James Kimonyo shares how the East African nation is using the platform not only to expand exports, but also to attract Chinese investment, forging a partnership that fuels mutual growth.
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, CGTN Radio has launched Together Forward, a special feature series showcasing the breadth and depth of China-Africa partnership. A launch event for the series was held at the Communication University of China on October 10th, bringing together its main protagonists and experts who shared personal stories of China-Africa friendship and collaboration. Here's the audio recording of that event. (Please note: The background music in the behind-the-scenes video is AI-generated.)
Kenya and China have reached a groundbreaking agreement to restructure $3.5 billion in railway loans, converting them from U.S. dollars into Chinese yuan. The move could save Kenya $215 million in debt servicing costs and marks the first time an African nation has shifted major sovereign debt into RMB — a potential model for other Global South countries. In this episode, Eric & Géraud unpack what this deal really means for Kenya, China, and the broader narrative around China's “debt-trap diplomacy.” They explore how the agreement challenges old assumptions, what it says about the future of RMB internationalization, and whether other countries — like Indonesia — could follow suit. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 02:45 – How the Kenya–China debt swap works 09:30 – Why this deal matters for China's RMB ambitions 15:10 – The myth of the “debt trap” revisited 25:40 – Lessons for other Global South economies 34:00 – Cameroon's shifting trade ties with China and France 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: 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
Since Xi Jinping's accession to power in 2012, nearly every aspect of China's relations with Africa has grown dramatically. Beijing has increased the share of resources it devotes to African countries, expanding military cooperation, technological investment, and educational and cultural programs as well as extending its political influence. China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement (Columbia University Press, 2023) examines the full scope of contemporary political and security relations between China and Africa. David H. Shinn and Joshua Eisenman not only explain the specific tactics and methods that Beijing uses to build its strategic relations with African political and military elites but also contextualize and interpret them within China's larger geostrategy. They argue that the priorities of Chinese leaders―including the conflation of threats to the Communist Party with threats to the country, a growing emphasis on relations in the Global South, and a focus on countering U.S. hegemony―have combined to elevate Africa's importance among policy makers in Beijing. Ranging from diplomacy and propaganda to arms sales and space cooperation, from increasingly frequent People's Liberation Army Navy port calls in Africa to the rising number of African students studying in China, this book marshals extensive and compelling qualitative and quantitative evidence of the deepening ties between China and Africa. Drawing on two decades of systematic data and hundreds of surveys and in-person interviews, Shinn and Eisenman shed new light on the state of China-Africa relations today and consider what the future may hold. Byline Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, Great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Since Xi Jinping's accession to power in 2012, nearly every aspect of China's relations with Africa has grown dramatically. Beijing has increased the share of resources it devotes to African countries, expanding military cooperation, technological investment, and educational and cultural programs as well as extending its political influence. China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement (Columbia University Press, 2023) examines the full scope of contemporary political and security relations between China and Africa. David H. Shinn and Joshua Eisenman not only explain the specific tactics and methods that Beijing uses to build its strategic relations with African political and military elites but also contextualize and interpret them within China's larger geostrategy. They argue that the priorities of Chinese leaders―including the conflation of threats to the Communist Party with threats to the country, a growing emphasis on relations in the Global South, and a focus on countering U.S. hegemony―have combined to elevate Africa's importance among policy makers in Beijing. Ranging from diplomacy and propaganda to arms sales and space cooperation, from increasingly frequent People's Liberation Army Navy port calls in Africa to the rising number of African students studying in China, this book marshals extensive and compelling qualitative and quantitative evidence of the deepening ties between China and Africa. Drawing on two decades of systematic data and hundreds of surveys and in-person interviews, Shinn and Eisenman shed new light on the state of China-Africa relations today and consider what the future may hold. Byline Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, Great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science
Since Xi Jinping's accession to power in 2012, nearly every aspect of China's relations with Africa has grown dramatically. Beijing has increased the share of resources it devotes to African countries, expanding military cooperation, technological investment, and educational and cultural programs as well as extending its political influence. China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement (Columbia University Press, 2023) examines the full scope of contemporary political and security relations between China and Africa. David H. Shinn and Joshua Eisenman not only explain the specific tactics and methods that Beijing uses to build its strategic relations with African political and military elites but also contextualize and interpret them within China's larger geostrategy. They argue that the priorities of Chinese leaders―including the conflation of threats to the Communist Party with threats to the country, a growing emphasis on relations in the Global South, and a focus on countering U.S. hegemony―have combined to elevate Africa's importance among policy makers in Beijing. Ranging from diplomacy and propaganda to arms sales and space cooperation, from increasingly frequent People's Liberation Army Navy port calls in Africa to the rising number of African students studying in China, this book marshals extensive and compelling qualitative and quantitative evidence of the deepening ties between China and Africa. Drawing on two decades of systematic data and hundreds of surveys and in-person interviews, Shinn and Eisenman shed new light on the state of China-Africa relations today and consider what the future may hold. Byline Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, Great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies
Since Xi Jinping's accession to power in 2012, nearly every aspect of China's relations with Africa has grown dramatically. Beijing has increased the share of resources it devotes to African countries, expanding military cooperation, technological investment, and educational and cultural programs as well as extending its political influence. China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement (Columbia University Press, 2023) examines the full scope of contemporary political and security relations between China and Africa. David H. Shinn and Joshua Eisenman not only explain the specific tactics and methods that Beijing uses to build its strategic relations with African political and military elites but also contextualize and interpret them within China's larger geostrategy. They argue that the priorities of Chinese leaders―including the conflation of threats to the Communist Party with threats to the country, a growing emphasis on relations in the Global South, and a focus on countering U.S. hegemony―have combined to elevate Africa's importance among policy makers in Beijing. Ranging from diplomacy and propaganda to arms sales and space cooperation, from increasingly frequent People's Liberation Army Navy port calls in Africa to the rising number of African students studying in China, this book marshals extensive and compelling qualitative and quantitative evidence of the deepening ties between China and Africa. Drawing on two decades of systematic data and hundreds of surveys and in-person interviews, Shinn and Eisenman shed new light on the state of China-Africa relations today and consider what the future may hold. Byline Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, Great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies
Since Xi Jinping's accession to power in 2012, nearly every aspect of China's relations with Africa has grown dramatically. Beijing has increased the share of resources it devotes to African countries, expanding military cooperation, technological investment, and educational and cultural programs as well as extending its political influence. China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement (Columbia University Press, 2023) examines the full scope of contemporary political and security relations between China and Africa. David H. Shinn and Joshua Eisenman not only explain the specific tactics and methods that Beijing uses to build its strategic relations with African political and military elites but also contextualize and interpret them within China's larger geostrategy. They argue that the priorities of Chinese leaders―including the conflation of threats to the Communist Party with threats to the country, a growing emphasis on relations in the Global South, and a focus on countering U.S. hegemony―have combined to elevate Africa's importance among policy makers in Beijing. Ranging from diplomacy and propaganda to arms sales and space cooperation, from increasingly frequent People's Liberation Army Navy port calls in Africa to the rising number of African students studying in China, this book marshals extensive and compelling qualitative and quantitative evidence of the deepening ties between China and Africa. Drawing on two decades of systematic data and hundreds of surveys and in-person interviews, Shinn and Eisenman shed new light on the state of China-Africa relations today and consider what the future may hold. Byline Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, Great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699
Since Xi Jinping's accession to power in 2012, nearly every aspect of China's relations with Africa has grown dramatically. Beijing has increased the share of resources it devotes to African countries, expanding military cooperation, technological investment, and educational and cultural programs as well as extending its political influence. China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement (Columbia University Press, 2023) examines the full scope of contemporary political and security relations between China and Africa. David H. Shinn and Joshua Eisenman not only explain the specific tactics and methods that Beijing uses to build its strategic relations with African political and military elites but also contextualize and interpret them within China's larger geostrategy. They argue that the priorities of Chinese leaders―including the conflation of threats to the Communist Party with threats to the country, a growing emphasis on relations in the Global South, and a focus on countering U.S. hegemony―have combined to elevate Africa's importance among policy makers in Beijing. Ranging from diplomacy and propaganda to arms sales and space cooperation, from increasingly frequent People's Liberation Army Navy port calls in Africa to the rising number of African students studying in China, this book marshals extensive and compelling qualitative and quantitative evidence of the deepening ties between China and Africa. Drawing on two decades of systematic data and hundreds of surveys and in-person interviews, Shinn and Eisenman shed new light on the state of China-Africa relations today and consider what the future may hold. Byline Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, Great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A "green wave" is reshaping China-Africa cooperation. In Kenya, from solar-powered poultry coops to smart greenhouses that read the soil like a living language, Chinese green technologies are transforming livelihoods and powering the country's sustainable future.
The China-Africa Science and Technology Backyard program is nurturing high-quality agricultural talents for Africa. Leveraging China's experience and techniques, those young leaders are empowering farmers and improving the livelihoods of thousands across the continent.
China-Africa trade is thriving, with Yiwu playing a growing role in connecting markets and people. Two African entrepreneurs share how they are finding new opportunities and building stronger ties between China and Africa.
① European leaders have held a summit in Copenhagen to discuss building an EU-wide “drone wall”. Is it something feasible for the EU? (00:40) ② The operation of the first direct cargo flight route from China's Hainan to Africa has begun. What could be Hainan's role in future China-Africa trade? (12:32)
A Chinese director has spent over a decade documenting China-Africa stories, using his camera to bridge cultures and foster understanding. He's also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of China-Africa storytellers, further strengthening the partnership.
China-Africa trade in the first eight months of the year increased by 15% to more than $220 billion, on track to break another annual record. A significant portion of that growth, however, stemmed from a surge in Chinese exports to African countries, exacerbating an already substantial $60 billion African trade deficit with China. South Africa, by far, is China's most important trade partner on the continent, and it is attempting to close that gap by increasing its exports of agricultural products to China. The problem, however, is that it will take a lot more than selling fruits and vegetables to narrow the country's gaping trade deficit. In the meantime, local producers are facing growing pricing pressure from the surge of low-cost Chinese imports. Eric & Cobus discuss the difficult position that many African countries are facing in this new, more competitive trade landscape. 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: 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
China's presence in Africa is often debated through different lenses. Two prominent angles to examine this relationship are through finance and security. Under finance, Beijing has become the continent's biggest lender, funding roads, ports, and railways. In security discussions, China's engagement with Africa is increasing in trade and training. China is advancing the Global Security Initiative (GSI), a framework that emphasizes sovereignty, non-interference, and development as the foundation for peace, a sharp contrast to Western, military-led approaches. But how is this vision received in Africa, and what does it mean for the continent's security future? In this episode, Geraud is joined by Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Strategic Studies Center in Washington, D.C, to explore these questions with a focus on African agency: how leaders negotiate loans, manage partnerships, and interpret China's security proposals. The answers, as Paul explains, reveal a more complex picture than dependency or partnership alone. SHOW NOTES: Africa Center for Strategic Studies: Africa as a Testing Ground for China's Global Security Initiative by Paul Nantulya 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
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, we cover the heartbreaking Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis, a wave of swatting attacks targeting U.S. colleges, and global updates from Iran, Greenland, Vietnam, and West Africa. From domestic terror and cultural battles at home to mineral wars and Islamist violence abroad, today's brief delivers the facts shaping America's future. Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting: A 23-year-old man who identified as transgender opened fire outside a Catholic school, killing two children and injuring 17 others. In his manifesto he wrote, “I do it to please myself… I do it because I am sick.” The school's priest begged, “I ask you to — please — pray,” while Democrats like Jen Psaki shot back, “Prayer is not freaking enough.” Bryan calls Psaki's remarks “a demand of the evil and wicked” and links the shooter's instability to cross-sex hormones, THC use, and the broader dangers of experimental “gender affirming care.” Swatting Attacks Target U.S. Colleges: Universities from South Carolina to Colorado were hit by fake active-shooter calls, prompting dangerous police raids. Wired identifies the culprits as an online group called Purgatory, who brag they are “nihilistic” and do it for fun and cash. Bryan argues the crime warrants capital punishment: “You rip this stuff and these people out by the root.” Foreign Spies Captured Bolton's Emails: The New York Times confirms that a foreign intelligence service intercepted classified emails John Bolton sent to his wife and daughter from an unsecured system. Democrats call Trump's DOJ “fascist,” but Bryan insists, “Had I done what John Bolton did, I would be in prison a long time ago.” Iran's Nuclear Stockpile Neutralized: Satellite images confirm Trump's Operation Midnight Hammer left 900 pounds of enriched uranium entombed at Isfahan. The IAEA backs the finding, despite Iran threatening its director Rafael Grossi with death. Bryan says the news proves firing DIA chief Jeffrey Kruse for downplaying the strike was “a good clean-out of the Deep State.” American Operatives Stir Trouble in Greenland: The Wall Street Journal reports suspected Trump-linked contractors are recruiting Greenlanders for separatist movements, sparking tensions with Denmark. Bryan suspects, “These guys are more like Erik Prince's Blackwater than CIA professionals — sloppy, but maybe effective.” China Moves to Corner Vietnam's Tungsten Supply: Reuters reveals Chinese firms are secretly bidding for Vietnam's tungsten mines through front companies. With the U.S. sourcing a quarter of its tungsten from Vietnam, Bryan warns this could leave America “utterly dependent” on Beijing for another critical mineral. Islamist Violence in Ivory Coast Spurs U.S. Base Plans: Militants from Burkina Faso kill farmers in northern Ivory Coast, part of a growing jihadist campaign across West Africa. The U.S. considers building a drone and Special Forces base in Benin, Ghana, or Ivory Coast to counter both Islamists and China's expanding footprint in African resources and fishing. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: Minneapolis Catholic school shooting, transgender shooter manifesto, Jen Psaki prayer remarks, THC psychosis gender dysphoria, U.S. college swatting attacks Purgatory group, John Bolton unsecured emails espionage, Operation Midnight Hammer uranium entombed, Jeffrey Kruse DIA firing, Trump Greenland operatives separatist movement, China Vietnam tungsten mine, U.S. dependence critical minerals, Ivory Coast Islamist attack Burkina Faso, U.S. West Africa drone base, China Africa bauxite cocoa fishing
China's "lucid waters and lush mountains" vision, a pillar of its green development strategy for two decades, is inspiring fresh opportunities for China–Africa cooperation. Experts from China and Africa share how it can strengthen environmental partnerships and promote sustainable growth on the African continent.
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
As new U.S. tariffs take effect, African countries like South Africa and Lesotho are facing growing trade pressures. With the U.S. seen as a less predictable partner, experts are exploring how deeper China-Africa cooperation could help navigate the shifting landscape.
As the world confronts climate change and growing food security challenges, green agriculture is emerging as one of the key ares in China-Africa cooperation. During the Third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, experts and industry leaders highlight new trends and opportunities to build more sustainable agricultural supply chains, from seeds to markets. How can China and Africa work together to drive this green transition? We take a closer look with Zhou Yuguang and Kojo Ahiakpa.
A new generation of scholars is reshaping China-Africa research. More geographically diverse and digitally fluent than the field's early pioneers of the 2000s, this cohort brings fresh perspectives and tools to the study of China's engagement on the continent. Yet deep structural barriers persist. African and Chinese researchers still face sizable obstacles in shaping research agendas, as U.S. and European institutions continue to dominate decisions about what gets studied, who receives funding, and which voices are amplified. Solange Guo Chatelard, a research associate at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the new executive director of the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China research network, joins Eric & Cobus to discuss the current state of China-Africa scholarship and where it's going. SHOW NOTES: The China-Global South Project: A Display of Power, Not Partnership, in Washington by C. Géraud Neema The Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network: https://ca-ac.org/ 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 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 25 years, China's military engagement with Africa has grown dramatically. In 2000, fewer than 5% of African weapons came from China. Today, Chinese-made armored vehicles are used by 70% of African militaries, and China has become the continent's largest arms supplier. Officer training programs have followed a similar trajectory. At the turn of the century, fewer than 200 African officers were trained in China; today, that number exceeds 2,000. Paul Nantulya, a veteran China–Africa military analyst and research associate at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, joins Eric and Cobus to unpack his latest findings on how Beijing is deepening its defense ties across the continent. 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 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
At the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, African entrepreneurs showcase everything from tea and cashews to specialty coffee, forging new connections and exploring opportunities in the Chinese market. These encounters highlight the growing depth and diversity of China-Africa business cooperation on the ground.
Organizers of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo expect participants to sign more than 11 billion U.S. dollars of deals during the event in Changsha.
As the world marks World Environment Day on June 5, this year's theme "Beat Plastic Pollution" highlights the urgent global need to address the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste. China and Africa are among the regions grappling with the widespread effects of plastic pollution. We speak with Ma Jun and Ali-Said Matano to explore the challenges, national efforts, and opportunities for China-Africa cooperation in the mission to combat plastic pollution.
In Zambia, efforts to clean up a massive acid spill from a Chinese-owned mine have been met with skepticism, despite government assurances. Officials claim restitution is underway and rehabilitation plans are in place, but activists question the fairness of compensation and lack of independent assessments. Meantime, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, tensions are growing between major players in the cobalt and copper sectors. A public dispute between joint venture partners Ivanhoe and Zijin over mine damage revealed deep fractures, while an export ban on cobalt, aimed at stabilizing prices, has pitted Glencore against Chinese firm CMOC. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @obertbore | @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
As the host of the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, central China's Hunan Province is gaining fresh attention for its rising influence in China-Africa cooperation. From pioneering industrial transfer models to forging new trade routes and advancing partnerships in agriculture and healthcare, Hunan is stepping up as a vital bridge, helping shape a more connected and prosperous future between China and Africa.
Africa Day, marked each year on May 25, is more than a commemoration—it's a call to collective prosperity. As Africa navigates its development journey, it also strengthens ties with global partners like China. We speak with Ambassador Rahmat M. Osman, the African Union's Permanent Representative to China, about the evolving role of the AU in shaping China-Africa cooperation, and how this annual celebration is fueling new momentum in cross-regional collaboration.
Kenyan President William Ruto is in China for a state visit at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a "China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era." Xi described the move as a strategic choice reflecting global and historical trends, adding that China is ready to work with Kenya to set an example of all-weather China-Africa cooperation and promote solidarity among Global South nations.
China and Kenya have announced the elevation of ties to a Community with a Shared Future in the New Era, and agreed to set up an example for China-Africa relations (01:01). China's Tiangong Space Station is welcoming a new three-member crew after the successful launch of the Shenzhou-20 mission (07:22). And China says there are no tariff talks with the U.S., denying Washington's claims that the two sides will reach a deal soon (12:00).
Kenyan President William Ruto is scheduled to travel to Beijing later this month for an official state visit, where he's widely expected to finalize a long-awaited deal to extend the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Ugandan border. But the key question remains: will China agree to fund the 475-kilometer extension? Eric and Géraud also explore why a Chinese mining company continues to produce large volumes of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite a government ban on exports of the valuable blue metal. Plus, they unpack the latest testimony from General Michael Langley, the top U.S. military commander for Africa, and what his comments reveal about Washington's current outlook on China-Africa relations. 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
In January, the Indian government published a new critical minerals strategy that details how the country aims to bolster supply chains necessary for its green energy transition. While the report underscores the importance of developing domestic supplies of lithium and other transition resources, it also calls for closer international partnerships, particularly with mineral-rich African nations. India has deep ties in Africa, particularly in eastern and southern countries on the continent, but it is a newcomer to the critical resources sector that is largely dominated by Chinese and European companies. Veda Vaidyanathan, an accomplished China-Africa scholar and an associate fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress in New Delhi, joins Eric & Géraud to explain how India's approach to critical resource mining in Africa is going to look very different from what China is doing. Show Notes: Centre for Social and Economic Progress: India, Africa and Critical Minerals: Towards a Green Energy Partnership by Veda Vaidyanathan Reuters: India exploring critical minerals in Zambia, Congo and Australia, official says by Neha Arora 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
CGD's Gyude Moore speaks with Hannah Ryder of Development Reimagined and Yunnan Chen of ODI Global about the evolution of China's relationship with Africa, the opportunities presented by FOCAC 9, and where the money should go to do the most good.
During his Senate confirmation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the so-called "liberal international order" that he said was obsolete and no longer working for the United States. Since he and his boss, President Donald Trump, took office eight weeks ago, they have thoroughly upended the post-WWII global order that the U.S. itself established and led for the past 75 years. The changes in Washington are happening so fast that it's impossible to keep up. Every day, institutions many assumed were invincible have either been closed or censured. Now, the challenges facing policymakers around the world is how to adapt to this emerging international system that is no longer anchored in Washington, D.C. Gyude Moore, an inaugural visiting fellow at Global Neighbours and Liberia's former minister of public works, joins Eric & Cobus to discuss what he thinks African countries should do to thrive in a new post-American international order. 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 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
During his Senate confirmation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the so-called "liberal international order" that he said was obsolete and no longer working for the United States. Since he and his boss, President Donald Trump, took office eight weeks ago, they have thoroughly upended the post-WWII global order that the U.S. itself established and led for the past 75 years. The changes in Washington are happening so fast that it's impossible to keep up. Every day, institutions many assumed were invincible have either been closed or censured. Now, the challenges facing policymakers around the world is how to adapt to this emerging international system that is no longer anchored in Washington, D.C. Gyude Moore, an inaugural visiting fellow at Global Neighbours and Liberia's former minister of public works, joins Eric & Cobus to discuss what he thinks African countries should do to thrive in a new post-American international order. 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 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
Chinese engagement in Africa is seen by many people as a classic example of neo-colonial exploitation. China, according to the narrative, is merely the latest in a long line of predatory foreigners seeking to drain the continent's vast reserves of oil, minerals, and timber. The narrative that frames the Chinese as the aggressors and Africans as the victims has largely been defined by U.S., European, and Indian entities over the past several decades and fits neatly into African historical traumas that help explain why so many people feel this way even though it doesn't comport with the evidence. This week, Eric, Géraud, and Cobus discuss why these narratives are so durable and then explore the sensitive issue of who should be empowered to tell the China-Africa story. 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 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
2024 will be remembered as a seminal year in China-Africa relations with a rebound of Chinese lending to the continent and renewed diplomatic engagement in the run-up to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit that took place in Beijing. Africa also emerged again as a centerpiece in the U.S.-China duel as leaders from both major powers visited the continent in 2024. And while stakeholders in the U.S. and Europe struggle to get their businesses to see the opportunities available in Africa, Chinese firms have no such concerns as they expanded their presence this year in the mining, telecom, and automotive sectors. In this year-end double episode, Eric, Cobus, & Géraud share their top three China-Africa stories of 2024 and provide a forecast for what to expect in the year ahead. 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