Gyude Moore: “China in Africa: An African Perspective”

"It seems U.S. response in Africa were not driven by Africans's needs but by the need to stop what China is doing in Africa" one of the most powerfulest quotes I've ever heard and very well articulated !

Western countries telling African nations what's good or bad for them is an insult to Africans' intelligence really.

I worked in Africa for many years and this assessment is the most accurate. The West continues to badmouth China while it does not want to loan a single dime to Africa. Africa does not need handout like the West wants to see but it wants loans to develop its infrastructures in order to kickstart its economy. China is the only country to take the risk to make such loans. Africans are poor but not stupid. They know that loans must be paid back!

Ethiopa used to have an American Dream and got US bags of rice. Now, they have a new dream, the China Dream, and they get factories and roads.

I have written down and paraphrased his main talking points: - Mr. Moore structured his thoughts under three heading: The Inadequacy of Africa's Previous Relationships, The Suitability of China as A Partner for Africa, and What's Next Going Forward. - China didn't just suddenly show up in Africa. - Africa in the 1990's was mired in wars (stimulated by the flow of weapons from ex Soviet republics), diseases (malaria, HIV), and foreign debt (took on by African govts from Western institutions in the 1970's) that brought a lot of humanitarian crisis. - Because of all that, Western countries looked at Africa primarily through developmental aid perspective. No Western business wanted to invest or trade with Africa (except for resource extraction businesses, I guess). - In 2000, China invited African governments for the FORCAC (Forum on China and African Cooperation). - In the same year, Chinese firms were also encouraged to go abroad to seek resources and market. - At the same time China was also beginning to become the factory for the world, so they begun to seek access to resources at source in Africa. The reason was because China didn't want to depend on the international resources markets. - So Chinese companies began to negotiate with African governments by offering a completely different model. - 100 companies listed on London Stock Exchange or domiciled in the UK own 1 trillion dollar worth of resources in Africa. - Western companies come to Africa, pay for royalties and taxes to African government for resources and the governments use the payment to pay for services and infrastructure, etc. - Chinese companies offer infrastructure for resources. - Africa lacks infrastructure. Especially paved road and electricity. Only 43% of all roads in Africa are paved. 30% of them in South Africa. - Because of this lack of infrastructure. Africa's total share of the global trade in 2017 was equal only to South Korea. - The Chinese showed up and began to build infrastructures that were not based on the old colonial infrastructure model, which was to facilitate the exploitation and movement of resources from the periphery (the African colonies) to the center (Western colonizer countries) and not meant to connect African countries with each other. - What China is doing now is to build infrastructure to connect African countries and cities, which makes it possible for regional value chain to develop. - After the end of Western colonialism of Africa, Western states in Africa were replaced with Western companies that negotiated unfair deals with African governments. - It was the inadequacies of these deals that made African countries welcomed Chinese companies. - The suitability of China as a partner of Africa lies in the fact that Chinese companies offer to do projects on lower costs when compared to Western companies. - Why? Although it's true that Chinese companies sometimes bribe African officials to win projects, but it's also true that Chinese companies operate on lower costs than Western companies without reducing the quality of the work. - Another facet of the suitability of China as a partner is how the Chinese government officials treat African governments official. Issues: - Around 2000, Western powers through World Bank created Highly Indebted Countries program through which African countries can have their debts waived. Most African countries have gone through the program or close to it. - However, in six years some of these countries have incurred new high debt and a big chunk came from China (not the majority). - China's share of total African debt stock is 17%. Most of Africa's debt are owed to multilateral developmental banks and private Western institutions, which is the main driver of debt in Africa. - There are 54 countries on the African countries. Close to 90% Chinese debt to Africa went to 7 or 8 countries: Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Angola, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo. - China's role in decimation of wildlife in Africa. Chinese government introduced a ban in 2015 which drove down ivory price by 75%. - China's sale of arms to Africa. - There is also the argument that the availability of Chinese products makes it difficult for African domestic industries to develop. - In the year 2000 there were less than 1,000 African students in China. Today, only France exceeds China as destination for African students. China will exceed France in ten years. On the other side there was a conference on Africa at USC in 2018 that had to be cancelled because all African invitees were denied US visas. - EU's policy towards Africa today is shaped by immigration issue: How to prevent more Africans from immigrating to the EU. - The new US policy on Africa seems to be driven by the US need to response to what China is doing in Africa and not based on what Africa needs. - China's presence in Africa has been and continues to be a net positive. The future is unknown. - Between 2000 and 2019, China has waived, restructured, and rescheduled debt payment 87 times. - Agro-tech is one possible path out of poverty for Africans. -

Best statement: China might win more, but at least Africa don’t lose.

The Chinese have replaced the west in African because the Chinese have done a better job with providing favorable loans to Africa. A lot of these loans do not require collatoral like the West. These European countries are upset because China and Africa are both benefting from these loans.

For the first time, people in Africa saw their resources exchange made some difference in their life!!

Before China goes to Africa The West: Just let the colonies to fight , donot bother us is fine. After China goes to Africa The West : Do not let them to bulid for you, They will take your lands and resources. The Africa : Donot worry, It has been taken by you for a long long long time....................

Every time there's a discussion of Africa/China relations in the Q&A, you'll hear a Westerner ask about Chinese debt trap and Sri Lanka. You can see the guest speaker chuckle and point out that this question always comes up. I like his answer, first time I've heard this fact, China's restructured payments 87 times and only 1 time has there been a debt equity swap. During Covid19 China has provided debt relief to African countries.

My college friend from Ghana once said China is greatly improving the quality of life in his home country. Some of his family members decide to stay in Ghana for more economic opportunities due to the advancement in infrastructure.

I think it is very telling that Mr. Moore's recites his experience about how certain African leaders are snubbed by US politicians (both Democrat and Republican), whereas they enjoy access to the highest echelons of the Chinese leadership. That sends a powerful message to African leaders.

You can actually see how powerful western media is, based on those questions by the audience. Almost all the questions are a rehash from the media and Mr. Gyude is already tired of answering them with actual facts.

We bombed Libya back into the stone age to destabalize the most prosperous country in Africa. They had ZERO debt when the USA assassinated Ghaddafi

As a Chinese I want to see Africa flourish! It's a long and difficult journey, but we'll get there one day. You'll see.

This honest man disappointed many audiences, in the room, and not in the room.

China isn't bombing there. America is bombing seven countries in the region What ever you say, China is investing, not killing and overthrowing countries. Of course, they want a return on investments. But not in blood.

the part where he talked about how African delegations get respect from China no matter how small or weak they may be is just wow

Glad that this African speaker admits that the future development of Africa will have a lot of Chinese “food prints”. More importantly the African do NOT loss when Chinese try to develop a win-win relationship. Very truthful comment! Another impressive point is that the speaker said the goods manufactured in China will only take one week to arrive in east Africa after the Silk Road and maritime initiative complete. What a bright future both for China and Africa 👍👍👍

Every time I go to Ghana, Ivory coast,Senegal new highways, bridges, malls, paved roads are being built.People are extremely encouraged and determined to start new businesses.despite all the problems, the continent is moving forward.