It is conspicuous that Africa is being seen as a productive partner and a continent that must not be discarded or ignored in any political and economic strategic commitment. Africa has had many interactions with different people around the world, the Europeans, the Arabians, the Americans and the Asians.
It is also obvious that centuries of Africa relations with the European and American Powers have not paved ways for African development, but decades of African engagement with China is bringing more developmental initiatives and transformation to the continent.
The new US Strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa which has been unveiled as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken undertook a three-nation trip to Africa shows that it essentially means reframing Africa as important to what the US perceives to be its rivalry with China and Russia.
In a fact sheet on the US’ strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa published on Monday, 8th of August, 2022, the White House makes no bones about the core purpose of the strategy being to coerce African countries to counter what it alleges are “harmful activities” by China and Russia.
The great lengths the document goes to elaborate the US’ commitment to aid African countries’ development in various fields makes it clear that the harm it is alarmed about is the US’ loss of influence on the continent, which the document says plays a critical role in advancing the US’ global priorities, not least because it represents one of the largest regional voting groups in the United Nations. Such US commitment is rather late and deceptive as it is not different from what Africa had experienced hitherto with Europe and America.
There is one important fact that the United States and Europeans need to clearly understand, which is reminding themselves of the historical facts of slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism. Africa has been enslaved, colonized and suffering under neocolonial global system and Africa remains the victim of globalization. They should also remember that whatever they did for Africa was to their own interest not the interest of Africa nor its development. Africa has now discovered a new partner, a sister and a development partner, which is China.
There is mutual benefit in China-Africa relations, mutual trust and mutual respect. There is also win-win cooperation. China will not panic and will not fear Africa’s relation with any partner as China knows that Africa has no other better partner than China.
China has made it clear in its foreign policy that it will not interfere in the internal affairs of states; it advocates for political solutions to regional and internal conflicts and crises.
The other partners coerce Africa and take advantages of their relationship with the black continent. We should all remember the American general who flew to Iran and met with “old friends”; days later, the Shah ordered the Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh to step down. When the Iranian military hesitates, millions of dollars were funneled into Tehran to buy off Mossadegh’s supporters and finance street protests. The military, recognizing that the balance of power had shifted, seized the prime minister, who would live the rest of his life under house arrest.
Several national leaders, both dictators and democratically elected figures, were caught in the middle of the U.S.-Soviet Cold War, a position that ultimately cost them their office (and, for some, their life) as the CIA tried to install “their man” as head of state. The U.S. government has since publicly acknowledged some of these covert actions.Though the United States was initially supportive of Guatemalan President JacoboÁrbenz, the State Department felt his rise through the U.S.-trained and armed military would be an asset, the relationship soured as Árbenz attempted a series of land reforms that threatened the holdings of the U.S.-owned United Fruit Company.
A coup in 1954 forced Árbenz from power, allowing a succession of juntas in his place. Classified details of the CIA’s involvement in the ouster of the Guatemalan leader, which included equipping rebels and paramilitary troops while the U.S. Navy blockaded the Guatemalan coast, came to light in 1999.
Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Congo (later the Democratic Republic of the Congo), was pushed out of office by Congolese President Joseph Kasavubu amid the U.S.-supported Belgian military intervention in the country, a violent effort to maintain Belgian business interests after the country’s decolonization. But Lumumba maintained an armed opposition to the Belgian military and, after approaching the Soviet Union for supplies, was targeted by the CIA once the agency determined he was a threat to the newly installed government of Joseph Mobutu.
The Church Committee, an 11-senator commission established in 1975 to provide oversight of the clandestine actions of the U.S. intelligence community, found that the CIA “continued to maintain close contact with Congolese who expressed a desire to assassinate Lumumba,” and that “CIA officers encouraged and offered to aid these Congolese in their efforts against Lumumba.” After an aborted assassination attempt against Lumumba involving a poisoned handkerchief, the CIA alerted Congolese troops to Lumumba’s location and noted roads to be blocked and potential escape routes. Lumumba was captured in late 1960 and killed in January of the following year.
It is rather inherent that Africans can never forget these historical records of American involvement in the dethronement of their respected leaders especially Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Patrice Lumumba of Congo. The United States involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and creation of regional tension such as in the Middle East, Asia, Caribbean and Europe are some of the historical antecedents that Africa do not want to remember. Africa had been left alone with puppets, and in Fanonian notion “white men in black skin” who have oppressed their people and looted their treasuries. Europe has been a dumping ground for Africa’s stolen treasure and a hiding place for African dictators where they purchase property and live with their families.
The mutual respect Africa shares with China is not the same as what Africa shares with the United States. This comes from both historical and contemporary perception of Africa by American leaders. It is worth recalling that Lyndon Johnson labelled Africans “cannibals” , Richard Nixon ridiculed blacks as “genetically inferior” to whites and Ronald Reagan’s pro-Apartheid policy of Constructive Engagement was consistent with his overall African policy. Such stereotyping of Africa has not been appreciated by the African people and their leaders and that is why there has not mean meaningful engagement. Donald Trump had made worst comments on Africa where he blatantly called it “ass hole,” and there is no people on earth that would be treated as such in this modern times and agree to the luring their bidder.
It is also notable that John F. Kennedy made 479 references to Africa during the US presidential campaign. He observed that America had lost ground on the continent because of failures to meet the “need and aspirations of the African people.” Africans have come to know that, China is a better partner in a meaningful relationship than the United States and the Europeans, as China does not dominate, it does not stereotype and pursues common interest, goal and mutual benefits with the African people.
Some of the distinguishing factors between China-Africa relations and Africa-U.S. relations or Euro-Africa relations have been highlighted by the State Councilor Wang Yi in his remarks at the coordinators’ meeting on the implementation of the follow-up actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). These nuances are as follows:
Together, we have safeguarded international fairness and justice: In the face of the various forms of hegemonic and bullying practices, China and Africa have stood with each other shoulder to shoulder. China appreciates the firm commitment of African countries to the one-China principle and the strong support for China’s efforts to safeguard sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. China has also spoken up for our African brothers at the UN and other multilateral settings, upholding justice and opposing unwarranted interference and unilateral sanctions against Africa. In solidarity and coordination, China and Africa have become a pillar force in defending the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, upholding the purposes of the UN Charter, and advocating multilateralism and international fairness and justice.
Together, we have kept our focus on development cooperation: We have pushed forward our cooperation on infrastructure, and completed several major projects since the Dakar Conference, including the Foundiougne Bridge in Senegal, the Nairobi Expressway, the Kribi-Lolabe Highway in Cameroon, and the 10th of Ramadan LRT in Egypt. All these have lent a strong boost to Africa’s industrialization process. China is making steady progress in implementing all the pledges it made in Dakar, despite various difficulties and disturbances. Over three billion has been delivered out of the 10 billion US dollars of credit facilities pledged to African financial institutions, and nearly 2.5 billion US dollars of loans were channeled to Africa’s priority programs. More than two billion of the 10 billion US dollars of trade finance has been allocated, and China’s import of African goods within seven months reached 70.6 billion US dollars. Chinese companies have invested 2.17 billion US dollars in Africa. We are prepared to, through the IMF’s two Trusts, re-channel 10 billion US dollars of its SDR to Africa, and encourage the IMF to direct China’s contributions to Africa.
Together, we have tackled the global food crisis: So far this year, China has signed exchange of letters with 12 African countries on zero tariff for 98 percent of their export items to China. We have provided emergency food assistance to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea. More African agricultural produce has reached the Chinese market through the “green lanes”. The first four China-Africa joint centers for modern agro-technology exchange, demonstration and training were launched. Chinese businesses are increasing their investment in Africa’s agricultural sector, growing more grains, and through the initiative of “100 companies in 1,000 villages”, helping create jobs, reduce poverty and improve livelihood for the rural households in Africa.
Together, we have built a strong shield against COVID-19: China has provided 189 million doses of vaccines to 27 African countries. Joint production of vaccines in Africa now has an annual capacity of about 400 million doses. The Africa CDC Headquarters building has topped out and is expected to be completed early next year. We have concluded upgrading the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital and completed the preliminary procedures for hospitals in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Malawi to pair up with Chinese hospitals. China has made 332 appointments of medical personnel to Africa; the nearly 1,000 Chinese medical experts in Africa have provided services on 250,000 clinical cases, conducted more than 30,000 operations, treated patients in 4,500 critical cases, and trained 3,600 participants from the local medical and healthcare community. African students taking courses in Chinese colleges are returning to their campuses in China. Fourteen Chinese vocational schools have forged partnerships with 13 African higher education institutions.
Together, we have advanced resilient and sustainable development: We have expanded our cooperation on solar, wind and other clean energy sources. A number of key projects, including the Kafue Lower Gorge Power Station in Zambia have entered into operation. We have held an excellent seminar on building Africa’s Great Green Wall. In countries including Botswana and Burkina Faso, we are carrying out South-South cooperation for addressing climate change. In Seychelles, we are building a low-carbon demonstration zone. In Madagascar and Mozambique, we have supported their response to hurricanes, and helped enhance capacity for disaster preparedness and relief.
Together, we have enhanced regional peace and stability: China has put forward the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, appointed its Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs, and supported countries in the region in holding the Horn of Africa Peace Conference. The second China-Africa Peace and Security Forum and a workshop on security in the Gulf of Guinea were successfully held. China has continued to provide military aid to countries in Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, and policing equipment to countries including the Central African Republic and Namibia. All of this has helped boost the capacity of countries in the region for preserving peace and stability with their own strength.
Perish the thought that Washington might want to help African countries, out of the goodness of its heart. The US’ increased engagement with the continent is motivated primarily by Washington’s perspective that the US is in competition with China for the right to write the international rules. Just like its return to the Asia-Pacific and its sharpened focus on the Pacific island countries, the US’ “return to Africa” has nothing to do with boosting the continent’s development, which entails more input than the US can afford, it is simply another attempt by the US to involve the continent in a new Cold War it wants to launch against China and Russia.
The US only cares about the souring of Sino-African relations, rather than Africa’s development. It wants to derail Sino-African cooperation but has no intention of providing real assistance to any African countries that it manages to persuade to shun China.The African people know which country is their true partner, friend and brother, and which country is a speculator, troublemaker and saboteur that is trying to turn their countries into pieces in its geopolitical games.
BY
SHERIFF GHALI IBRAHIM,
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA-NIGERIA,
DIRECTOR, CONTEMPORARY CHINA-AFRICA RESEARCH
EMAIL: sherfboy@yahoo.com