China’s Interventions in the Horn of Africa

Context:

China has been investing across the African continent throughout the last decade. While the emphasis has been on investments and raw materials, it took a new turn recently, with the first “China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference.”

Relevance:

GS II- International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Horn of Africa
2. Recent projects between China and countries from the Horn of Africa
3. China’s primary interests/investments in the Horn of Africa
4. Has the Horn of Africa been welcoming of China’s presence?
5. Is China’s new focus on peace in the Horn a shift from Beijing’s principle of non-intervention?

About Horn of Africa

• Horn of Africa is the easternmost extension of African land and includes the region that is home to the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, whose cultures have been linked throughout their long history.
• The Horn of Africa has been at the centre of global attention for several decades because of protracted armed conflict, severe food crises and large-scale displacement.

Recent projects between China and countries from the Horn of Africa

• China’s focus on the Horn is a part of its focus on Africa.
• During the 17th trip to Africa, China’s Foreign Minister and State Councillor focused on increasing the infrastructural investments in African countries.
• He refuted accusations of debt-trapping the countries and asserted China’s three objectives in Africa:
  1. Controlling the pandemic,
  2. Implementing a Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) outcomes,
     • The FOCAC promotes China’s role in the infrastructural and societal development of the Horn.
  3. Upholding common interests while fighting hegemonic politics.

In the 2021 forum, the entire region of the Horn participated and four resolutions were adopted:

• The Dakar Action Plan,
• The China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035,
• The Sino-African Declaration on Climate Change
• The Declaration of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC

During the COVID-19 pandemic,

• China donated over 3,00,000 vaccines to Ethiopia and Uganda, and 2,00,000 vaccines to Kenya and Somalia. Sudan and Eritrea have also benefited from China’s vaccine diplomacy.
• Beijing has also initiated the “2035 vision for China-Africa cooperation”; it aims to transform the health sector, alleviate poverty, promote trade and investments, and expand digital innovation.
• The vision also focuses on green development, capacity building, improving people-to-people exchanges and facilitating peace and security in the continent.

China’s primary interests/investments in the Horn of Africa

China’s interests are related to four major areas:

Infrastructural projects:

• One of its landmark projects was fully funding the $200 million African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
• It has also made significant investments in railways;
  • It is building the Addis-Djibouti railway line connecting the land-locked country with Eritrean ports in the Red Sea.
  • China has also invested in the Mombasa-Nairobi rail link in Kenya, and has already delivered on railway projects in Sudan.
• It also has a viable military hardware market in Ethiopia and has built over 80 infrastructural projects in Somalia, including hospitals, roads, schools and stadiums. In Djibouti, 14 infrastructural projects are funded by China.

Financial assistance:

• With respect to financial assistance, Ethiopia, is one of the top five African recipients of Chinese investments, and also has a debt of almost $14 billion.
• China accounts for 67% of Kenya’s bilateral debt. In 2022, China promised to provide $15.7 million assistance to Eritrea.

Natural resources:

• The third major Chinese interest in Africa is the presence of natural resources — oil and coal.
• Beijing has invested $400 million in Mombasa’s oil terminal.
• China is also interested in minerals such as gold, iron-ore, precious stones, chemicals, oil and natural gas in Ethiopia.
• South Sudan, a source for petroleum products, has had continued Beijing investment in the industry since the latter’s initial entry in 1995.

Maritime interests:

• China’s first and only military base outside its mainland is in Djibouti.
• During his visit in early 2022, Wang hinted at China’s willingness to develop Eritrea’s coast which would connect to China’s investments in land-locked Ethiopia.
• The U.S. has speculated that China wishes to build another military base in Kenya and Tanzania, thereby increasing its military presence in the region.

Has the Horn of Africa been welcoming of China’s presence?

• Africa has been keen on interacting with China.
• Despite the wariness surrounding China’s projects in Africa, the governments have mostly been welcoming.
• When conflict broke out in Tigray in November 2020, Addis Ababa appreciated Beijing for respecting Ethiopia’s sovereignty.
• In December 2021, Kenya defended Chinese projects in the country; President maintained that China-Africa partnership was mutually beneficial.
• In November 2021, Uganda’s President suggested that China give access to its markets, in a fashion similar to the U.S. or Europe.

Is China’s new focus on peace in the Horn a shift from Beijing’s principle of non-intervention?

• Peace and stability is a 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.
  • In Ethiopia. when the conflict broke out, over 600 Chinese nationals, working on different projects, were evacuated, putting several investments at risk.
  • From a trading perspective, the region plays a significant role in achieving the objectives of the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035.

Shift in its principle of non-intervention:

• China’s move towards peace in Africa indicates a shift in its principle of non-intervention.
• It is China’s message that its presence in the continent has a larger objective and is not likely to be limited to the Horn of Africa.
• This includes an aim to project itself as a global leader and boost its international status.
• Further, the recent developments imply that China is focussing on a multifaceted growth in the continent for the long run.
• For Africa, China’s presence is an alternative to the European powers, many of whom are facing criticism from African governments.
• Further, African governments, which do not conform to Western standards of democracy, interact better with powers like China and Russia.

-Source: The Hindu