• Carolin Formella
• Tobias Heidland

African Scholars in China: Education Mobility as Soft Power?

China pledged more scholarships to African students than Western governments combined. Using LinkedIn data, we show that they study engineering and business in China, and, back in Africa, work in education and sectors tied to China-backed projects. This may underpin China’s geopolitical soft power.

Zambian Bureaucratic Practices in Chinese-Financed Digital Projects

Zambian bureaucrats have engaged with Chinese-financed digital projects under both the Edgar Lungu and Hakainde Hichilema administrations. Hangwei Li argues that the political transition widened the scope for bureaucratic manoeuvre in project management, yet these gains remained limited.

doi:10.18449/2026MTA-PB49

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• Hangwei Li
• Raj Verma

Sino-Indian Rivalry: Competition, Collaboration and African Agency

China-India relations have recently stabilized, although rivalry persists, fuelling competition in Africa over economic sectors, resources and narratives. Hangwei Li and Raj Verma examine how African governments can leverage dynamics of competition and convergence to strengthen their agency.

Success and Failure of Chinese Energy Infrastructure Projects in Africa

Energy infrastructure projects in Africa financed by Chinese loans prioritise hydropower over solar or wind power. These projects suffer from low transparency, high government corruption, and the concessionality of loans significantly impacts their successful completion.

doi:10.18449/2025MTA-WP19

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China in Africa: Shaping Economic Relations Through Subnational Actors

China’s engagement with Africa is significantly shaped by its subnational actors, especially provincial and local governments. This policy brief examines Zhejiang Province to explore its motivations and tactics, highlighting how it mobilizes city-level actors to foster stronger economic ties with Africa.

doi:10.18449/2025MTA-PB36

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Chinese Media Engagement with Africa and the Role of African Agency

This policy brief delves into China's strategic media engagement across Africa, revealing a dynamic interplay of state and private efforts aimed at reshaping narratives and boosting China's influence. It emphasises the pivotal role of economic and regulatory landscapes, suggesting the necessity of fostering African media independence to safeguard against authoritarian tendencies.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB26

• Download (PDF) | 256 KB