China’s interventions in the Horn of Africa
- China's investment in African continent took a new turn with first “China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference.”
- First time China aims to play a role in area of security.
China’s three objectives in Africa:
- Controlling the pandemic
- Implementing a Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) outcomes
- It promotes China’s role in infrastructural and societal development of the Horn.
- Upholding common interests while fighting hegemonic politics.
Recent projects
- In 2021 forum, entire region of Horn participated and four resolutions were adopted:
- Dakar Action Plan
- China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035,
- Sino-African Declaration on Climate Change and
- Declaration of Eighth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC.
- Countries from Horn of Africa benefited from China’s vaccine diplomacy.
- 2035 vision for China-Africa cooperation:
- Aim: transform health sector, alleviate poverty, promote trade and investments, and expand digital innovation.
- Focus on green development, capacity building, improving people-to-people exchanges and facilitating peace and security
China’s primary interests/investments in the Horn of Africa
- Four major areas:
- Infrastructural projects
- African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
- Addis-Djibouti railway line connecting the land-locked country with Eritrean ports in the Red Sea.
- Mombasa-Nairobi rail link in Kenya
- Military hardware market in Ethiopia
- Financial assistance
- Ethiopia is one of the top five African recipients of Chinese investments
- Natural resources
- Beijing has invested $400 million in Mombasa’s oil terminal.
- It is interested in minerals such as gold, iron ore, precious stones, chemicals, oil and natural gas in Ethiopia.
- South Sudan - a source of petroleum products, has continued Beijing's investment.
- Maritime interests.
- China’s first and only military base outside its mainland is in Djibouti.
- Despite doubts surrounding China’s projects in Africa, governments have mostly been welcoming.
Is China’s new focus on peace in the Horn a shift from Beijing’s principle of non-intervention?
- Peace and stability are mutual requirement for China and Africa.
- For Africa
- Chinese investments could lead to stable environments which could help the countries achieve their peace and development objectives.
- For China
- conflict in the region comes at a heavy cost.
- From trading perspective, region plays a significant role in achieving objectives of China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035.
Conclusion
- China’s move towards peace in Africa indicates a shift in its principle of non-intervention.
- It aims to project itself as global leader and boost its international status.
- For Africa, China’s presence is an alternative to the European powers, many of whom are facing criticism from African governments.
- African governments, which do not conform to Western standards of democracy, interact better with powers like China and Russia.