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

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 416 KB

• Christine Hackenesch
• Julia Bader

Pragmatic, Strategic and Wide-Reaching: The CCP’s Party Diplomacy in Africa

This policy brief analyses recent patterns and motives of China’s party diplomacy in Africa. It finds that the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP-ID) maintains close ties with the main ruling parties in some countries in the South and East of the continent as well as a broad range of parties in countries in North Africa. 

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB29

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 483 KB

Climate Collaboration in Multipolar Times

The G7's Just Energy Transition Partnership agreements with Senegal and South Africa aim to help these economies to become less carbon-intensive while creating new opportunities for cooperation, at a time when the rise of China and growing multipolarity are complicating Africa's external relations.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-WP09

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 351 KB

• Fonteh Akum
• Denis M. Tull

Strategic Competition and Cooperation in Africa

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, policy-makers have increasingly viewed Western interests as being challenged by rival actors, including in Africa. This obscures Africa’s growing autonomy in the international order. Redefining European relations with Africa through the prism of strategic competition disproportionately focuses on challenges rather than opportunities.

doi:10.18449/2023MTA-PB13

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 277 KB

Chinese Mega Projects in Kenya: Public Controversies around Infrastructure and Debt in East Africa’s Regional Hub

• Deutsch

China is investing in large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa. In Kenya, it has built several of these “mega projects”. While their economic viability remains to be seen, debates on the risks and benefits of Chinese investments and public debt are in full swing. 2022 is not only an important election year in Kenya but also a peak period of debt repayments. In this political climate, Chinese mega projects are either portrayed as symbols of independence and modernity, manifestations of usurpation, or colossal losing deals.

doi:10.18449/2022MTA-PB04

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 438 KB

African Conflicts amid Multipolarity: Implications of a Changing Actor Landscape

The range of external actors intervening in internal conflicts on the African continent has undergone a noticeable change. Three states in particular are intervening in a growing number of African conflicts: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, and Russia. Their expanding footprint shows that the multipolar disorder that has characterised wars in the Middle East now also affects much of Africa.

doi:10.18449/2022MTA-PB03

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 448 KB