Five ways China can be a friend to Africa as its footprint grows ever larger

Seifudein Adem says China has a constructive role to play in Africa in encouraging responsible government – not presidents for life – as well as in mediating its conflicts, helping in emergencies, and more

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is greeted upon his arrival at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, South Africa, in December 2015. Photo: EPA

Published: 2:10pm, 29 Nov 2017Updated: 10:02am, 4 Dec 2017

China’s growing footprint in Africa pits the optimists against the pessimists among China watchers. The former see China as a force for good in Africa; the latter less so. But are there not situations when China truly is a friend of Africa?

Broadly speaking, China is a friend to Africa in two scenarios: when it helps empower African peoples vis-à-vis their governments, and African states vis-à-vis the international system.

More specifically, China is a friend of Africa when its aid promotes not only economic development but also accountable governments in Africa. We know China does not champion liberal democracy, but it could openly shun the for-life presidents in Africa, like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who stay in office until they are forcefully retired. If the rotation of leaders after a specific period is a good thing for China, it should also be a good thing for Africa, and African governments that enjoy the legitimacy of their peoples are ultimately good for China.

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China is a friend of Africa when it is more responsive to Africa’s humanitarian needs in case of emergency.

China is a friend of Africa when it plays a constructive role by mediating some of the conflicts between and within African states. It is a friend of Africa when it provides peacekeeping troops under the auspices of the United Nations or regional organisations, and when it takes seriously the idea of prosecuting war criminals and those who have committed crimes against humanity in Africa.

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In carving up Africa in the 19th century, Europe was more concerned about its own balance of power than about Africa’s ethnic geography. Consequently, we have more than 50 multi-ethnic states of varying shapes and sizes today. A related point of significance is the issue of relations between ethnic groups. In many cases, people belonging to the ethnic group of the head of state in African countries automatically become the “chosen people”, with all the entitlements that go with it. The iron law of ethnic loyalty, otherwise known as tribalism, has proven resilient in Africa despite the colonial interlude. China could encourage us to practise genuine inter-ethnic power-sharing. It could stimulate us to learn best practises from one another. What could Ethiopia learn, for instance, from Tanzania’s inter-ethnic and inter-religious power sharing?