China aims green future and continues to wield significant influence across Africa, even as other global powers face challenges. France and the EU are being sidelined by military juntas in the Sahel, while Russia’s mercenary-security presence is met with suspicion by pro-Western African governments. In contrast, China has managed to maintain a balanced approach.
This was evident at the recent China-Africa summit, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac), where delegates from over 50 African nations attended, including notable figures like UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Long-standing African leaders, like Congo-Brazzaville’s Denis Sassou-Nguesso, joined first-time attendees like Senegal’s new president Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was given a prominent place next to President Xi Jinping.
For many African governments, weary of international pressures to take sides, China offers a dependable partnership, cooperating with both Moscow’s allies and pro-Western civilian-led states. However, China’s economic pursuits, particularly in securing natural resources in exchange for development aid, have raised concerns about debt accumulation and limited local employment opportunities in infrastructure projects.
Despite these criticisms, China’s role as a non-partisan and engaged partner remains attractive. Major infrastructure projects, such as a pipeline in Niger and a railway in Guinea, continue to progress even under military rule. This year’s Focac summit saw the announcement of 360 billion yuan ($50.7 billion) in funding over the next three years, with a focus on green energy, including electric vehicle manufacturing in Africa. This represents a symbolic step toward industrial development for the continent, which has lagged behind Asia in this regard.
Yet, challenges remain. China’s promises of support in nuclear energy and clean energy projects raise questions about their feasibility, especially given the complex technical and security aspects involved. Moreover, sensitive environmental issues, like accusations of over-fishing by Chinese vessels, were largely avoided during the summit.
Xi Jinping emphasized China’s solidarity with Africa, highlighting their shared population strength as part of the “global south.” The summit concluded with commitments to increase infrastructure projects and job creation, but the specifics of how the 360 billion yuan will be allocated remain unclear. A significant portion will come in the form of credit lines and investments, but concerns about sustainable debt levels persist.
China’s involvement in Africa over the past decade has often been criticized for contributing to debt crises. While Chinese financing has often filled gaps left by Western donors, particularly for large infrastructure projects, critics argue that the terms of these loans are less favorable than those offered by international financial institutions. Defenders of China, however, point out that it has been willing to take on projects that other partners have shied away from.
As African countries face new financial pressures, especially after the pandemic, China’s role appears to be evolving. While Western investment remains concentrated in sectors like mining and agriculture, China is positioning itself as a key partner in new industries like green technology. The question remains whether this signals a real shift in the China-Africa relationship or if traditional infrastructure projects will continue to dominate.
