China works to keep the peace in East Africa as security issues threaten investments

Beijing has signed a new deal with East African nations as security threats continue to cast a cloud over its investments in the continent

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, arriving here with African leaders at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, has pledged to train 1,000 police and law enforcement officers in Africa and provide police equipment. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:00pm, 29 Sep 2024Updated: 12:48pm, 29 Sep 2024

An attack on a private Chinese gold mining company in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in July, reportedly carried out by local militia, “left several Chinese nationals dead or missing”.

It was not an isolated incident.

Security issues have become a growing concern for Beijing as China expands trade and investment projects in African countries under its Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese nationals are being targeted in attacks, as are Chinese economic interests.

As a result, Beijing has been taking a more proactive role in peace and security across the continent – seen most recently in a deal signed in early September with 14 countries that are members of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation, to address new challenges in law enforcement and security.

The deal followed the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to train 1,000 police and law enforcement officers in Africa and provide police equipment to African countries.

This recent deal adds to dozens of existing public security and law enforcement agreements that China has with African nations, linked to China’s Global Security Initiative launched by Xi in 2022.