China’s engagement in Africa has ostensibly sought to avoid becoming embroiled in domestic politics while presenting itself as committed to ensuring African prosperity, but that messaging is increasingly harder to maintain. There have been growing calls from African leaders for it to mediate in ongoing conflicts across the Sahel and Ethiopia. Beijing, for the first time, employs a Horn of Africa envoy.
Great power competition between the U.S, Russia and China has resurfaced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accusations of “debt-trap” diplomacy within China’s vast foreign investment in Africa has often obscured wider implications around human rights violations and accountability. There is an intense backlash from locals against Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects because of resulting environmental problems in their communities. How can international actors ensure these voices are heard and can recent moves by African leaders to improve its uneven relationship with China ultimately change the trajectory of Sino-Africa relations.
Nosmot Gbadamosi is the writer of Foreign Policy’s weekly Africa Brief. She has reported on human rights, the environment and sustainable development from across the African continent. Her reporting has appeared in over 30 publications including Al Jazeera, CNN, and TIME. She is a Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting grantee covering China-backed projects within Africa.
Email schell.law@yale.edu to request Zoom link and background readings.
Sponsoring Organization(s)
Schell Center for International Human Rights