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Angola

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Angola. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Luanda

Head of State

President João Lourenço

Head of Government

President João Lourenço

China has spent billions investing in African critical minerals, such as this copper and cobalt mine in the DRC, leaving the US in its dust in the global rare earths race. Photo: AFP

China-Africa relations

China still leads the pack in Africa’s critical minerals race as US falls behind

Beijing has spent years – and billions – investing in Africa’s mining sector, and it is now paying off, experts say.

12 Mar 2025 - 11:16PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

In Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, China is proving it is master of the sea

29 Dec 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

History

Brazil-Angola cruise along slave trade route to shed light on dark past

14 Jan 2025 - 1:29PM

Joe Biden

Biden arrives in Angola for his long-awaited sub-Saharan Africa visit

US president will use the three-day trip to counter China’s influence by highlighting an ambitious US-backed railway project.

3 Dec 2024 - 4:13AMvideocam

US President Joe Biden on the red carpet next to Angola Foreign Affairs Minister Tete Antonio upon his arrival at the Quatro de Fevereiro Luanda International Airport in Angola’s capital Luanda on Monday. Photo: AFP

China-Africa relations

‘This is meant to be a demonstration’: how US plans to challenge China in Africa

The US and China are in a race to secure greater access to Africa’s vast mineral reserves with an infrastructure push by land and sea.

12 Nov 2024 - 11:40AMvideocam

China-Africa relations

Why is China choosing Gulf, Russia over Africa for crude oil supplies?

A report has highlighted the struggle among African oil suppliers as China moves towards other trading partners.

7 Jul 2024 - 6:11PMvideocam

US-China relations

US must avoid ‘devastating’ budget cuts to vie with China in Indo-Pacific: envoy

But Republican lawmakers question whether funds are being spent effectively to counter Beijing’s ‘malign influence’.

28 Jun 2024 - 6:36AMvideocam

Daniel Kritenbrink has served as US assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs since 2021. Photo: AP

US-China relations

US Export-Import Bank seeks more latitude to counter Belt and Road Initiative

Testifying before a supportive Congressional panel, the agency’s president asks for loosened restrictions to respond to Beijing’s export subsidies and finance.

28 Jun 2024 - 5:36AMvideocam

China-Africa relations

China should look to Africa to counter overcapacity claims, AFC chief says

Samaila Zubairu, head of the development bank, says China should not see the continent as just the source of raw materials.

23 May 2024 - 2:35PM

China-Africa relations

Coalition of the dissatisfied? Why China and Russia are winning friends in Africa

Beijing and Moscow are doing some things right but bigger picture forces are at play, analyst says.

19 May 2024 - 8:08PMvideocam

The World Bank and Western countries have been criticised for funding “capacity building” but not critical projects such as irrigation or railways. Photo: Shutterstock

China-Africa relations

Does China’s oil-for-infrastructure lending model in Africa need a rethink?

Chinese resource-backed loans were a lifeline for African economies but fluctuating commodity prices exposed a hidden danger.

20 May 2024 - 4:46PMvideocam

The ‘Angola model’ that saw Chinese lenders step in to fund the country’s reconstruction after decades of civil war worked well until oil prices soared in 2014, making it hard to service the debt. Photo: Reuters

South Korea

South Korea raises terrorism alert for 5 of its embassies. Here’s why it’s odd

Analysts say the sudden two-tier rise of the warning despite no major events in progress for Seoul could signal precautions against a retaliation over a row on defected diplomats.

3 May 2024 - 5:08PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

‘White gold’ mines in Africa bear fruit after decades of Chinese investment

New Zimbabwe processing plants help create lithium supply chains for Beijing as other markets tighten.

3 May 2024 - 3:17PMvideocam

Tourism

What the rest of ruined St Paul’s in Macau might have looked like

According to one culture official, the New Cathedral of Coimbra, in Portugal, served as the model for Macau’s Church of St Paul – of which only the facade remains, following a fire in 1835.

23 Apr 2024 - 4:15PM

The New Cathedral of Coimbra (Se Nova de Coimbra) in Portugal. Photo: Shutterstock

China-Africa relations

Critical minerals for EV batteries help to drive China-Africa trade growth

Two-way trade between China and Africa has defied expectations, growing despite economic challenges.

20 Apr 2024 - 10:00PMvideocam

Trade between Africa and China has defied the odds and grown year on year in the first quarter of 2024. Photo: Bloomberg

Science

2 major African space institutes join China-led moon project

Organisations from Kenya and Ethiopia have signed up to the China-led space initiative to build a lunar base.

20 Apr 2024 - 7:12PM

China-Africa relations

Chinese state firm agrees US$400 million loan for Niger junta in return for oil

Use of resources to repay loans is a popular model for China, but critics warn these deals are unfair and ‘mortgage the future of countries’.

18 Apr 2024 - 9:53AMvideocam

China-Africa relations

Chinese navy steps up African port calls in push to cement diplomatic ties

After pausing them during the pandemic, Beijing’s growing military diplomacy is seeing more frequent port visits.

13 Apr 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

The PLA Navy has been busy cementing diplomatic ties as its 45th naval fleet visited Tanzania (pictured) and Mozambique. Photo: Weibo/PLA Navy

Banking & finance

The View | Chinese and Gulf investments in Africa offer great development potential

As major investors displacing the traditional Western powers, China and the GCC are precipitating a reconfiguration away from the North-South flow of development resources.

9 Apr 2024 - 4:18PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

In the Sahara Desert, Chinese labourers work to build a 575km rail line. Why?

Chinese workers are building a railway in the Sahara Desert, in China’s latest step in diversifying its iron ore supply.

8 Apr 2024 - 2:31PMvideocam

Africa

‘A little bit tired’: UK man reaches goal of running length of Africa

Sore and sandblasted but triumphant, runner Russ Cook reached the northernmost point of Africa on Sunday, almost a year after he set off from its southern tip.

8 Apr 2024 - 3:48PMvideocam

Britain’s Russ Cook celebrates on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

China-Africa relations

Chinese revenue in Africa is in decline, and the situation is unlikely to change

Earnings by Chinese firms from construction works in Africa have dropped by 31 per cent since 2015. Experts say this is the ‘new normal’.

6 Apr 2024 - 8:00PMvideocam

Chinese companies’ earnings from engineering and construction works in Africa have dropped 31 per cent since 2015, and experts say it is unlikely they will return to previous levels. Photo: Shutterstock

Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | China’s tech generosity a sensible response to US constraints

After years of focusing on infrastructure investment in its Belt and Road Initiative projects, China now offers its partner countries funding and expertise in clean technologies. This will encourage regional nations, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, to keep engaging with China.

25 Mar 2024 - 6:15PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

How China and Angola are redefining ties for a post-oil, post-loans era

Following decades of the ‘Angola model’ – oil-backed loans to access Chinese funding for infrastructure – Beijing vows to help modernise Angola.

18 Mar 2024 - 4:45PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

Focused on Global South, China upgrades ties with Angola

Beijing is a reliable friend and sincere partner for countries in Africa, Xi Jinping tells visiting Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

16 Mar 2024 - 10:00PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping accompanies Angolan President Joao Lourenco during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

China-Africa relations

Africa is key in China’s bid to de-risk its iron ore supply

In a bid to break its reliance on Australia and Brazil for iron ore, China is diversifying further afield.

16 Mar 2024 - 9:00PMvideocam

A celebration as Leone Rock Metal Group (LRMG) launches the project to upgrade the Kingho Railway and Port. The iron ore mine connected with the upgrade has an estimated 13.7 billion tonnes of iron ore. Photo: Leone Rock Metal Group

China-Africa relations

Why have thousands of Chinese workers left Africa over the past decade?

IMF report says that between 2015 and 2021, the total number of Chinese workers in African countries fell by 64 per cent.

11 Mar 2024 - 5:01PMvideocam

Japan

Japan’s gender gap the widest among OECD countries, World Bank study shows

Japan is ranked 73rd out of 190 countries surveyed in an assessment of equality between genders, below the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Nepal and Lesotho.

8 Mar 2024 - 8:00AMvideocam

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