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Back to Africa!

January 7, 2023 | Expert Insights

Africa has been the El Dorado for rich and powerful nations for centuries, and the 21st Century is no different. While the 'Dark Continent' has succeeded in breaking out of its colonial shackles for almost half a century now, it remains economically hamstrung due to its crippling corruption and continued exploitation by 'neo-colonists'.

Background

In the early 19th Century, the infamous 'Scramble for Africa' was restricted to European colonial powers-France, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and Spain. Today there are new pretenders to the winning post; China, Russia, Japan, Brazil and even India! While the U.S. and China have replaced European powers like the U.K. and France, they must contend with the new entrants in the competition. Each of these rivals might not be significant on its own, but in combination, they have a much deeper impact on the African mainstream.

Apart from the immense natural resources that Africa possesses and the vast land mass that has the potential to turn the continent into a granary for the world, it is its strategic location that gives it real geopolitical centrality. The northern part of Africa touches the southern underbelly of Europe, and it is connected to Asia through the West Asian region, especially the Arab World, making it a natural bridge between the East and the West.

The two major powers that have been involved in competitive activity in the African continent recently are the United States and China. African nations are increasingly being forced to choose sides.

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Analysis

There has been a perceptible change in the approach of the United States towards Africa. The Biden administration has placed much more attention on Africa than previous U.S. governments. This has been illustrated by the recently concluded summit of the U.S. President with 50 African leaders in Washington, DC. Hailing the summit as an opportunity to "demonstrate the United States' enduring commitment to Africa", President Biden underscored the importance of US-Africa relations in the context of Beijing's growing confidence and hold on the continent.

Several factors have forced Washington to reinvigorate its African policy; the war in Ukraine, growing tensions with Russia, the global economic slowdown caused by the pandemic, and the post-pandemic recovery. Africa has one of the largest growing populations in the world, the world's largest trading bloc, the presence of large quantities of untapped natural resources and the sway that African countries hold during voting in the United Nations through their sheer numbers. The threat of Chinese and Russian presence in Africa is also a major reason for increased U.S. engagement with the continent.

The Chinese have followed a different strategy in their relationship with Africa, and this relationship has historical roots.

During the Cold War, this was mostly ideological. But since China did not have a seat in the United Nations until 1971, when it replaced Taiwan, this ideological outreach did not progress very far. It was only following the end of the Cold War in 1991 that a new relationship began to develop between Beijing and African countries based on economic and trade linkages. The Chinese economy entered a period of extensive growth during this period, so Africa assumed greater importance for the Red Dragon. It became an important source of raw materials for the booming Chinese economy. In return, China increased its investment in infrastructure and other economic projects in African countries, especially through its global Belt and Road Initiative.

This economic dependence of Africa on China has been termed a new form of colonialism by some observers, predominantly in the West. They are especially concerned about the lack of transparency in China's economic contracts with other countries. The Chinese, on the other hand, say that they are helping Africa to stand up on its own feet independent of the West.

In response to Beijing's growing involvement in Africa, Tokyo has also stepped up its engagement with the continent. Japan has both geopolitical and economic objectives in Africa. While the former is to counter China, the latter involves moving from an official development assistance approach to Africa to a more private investment-based approach.

Russia does not have the economic heft to match the other powers mentioned above. In this regard, it is a spoiler mostly against the United States in the security sphere. Through its mercenary fighting force, the Wagner Group, Russia has provided security assistance to the warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya, along with helping the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali fight against domestic insurgencies. It also has official security engagements with Algeria and Egypt.

Brazil's relationship with Portuguese-speaking West African countries like Angola and Mozambique goes back to the unhappier period of the slave trade, but with time, the old wounds have healed. Also, a commonality of language has brought Brazil closer to these now-independent nations. In 1972 Brazil began its special interaction with these countries in the modern era both in the economic and the geo-strategic sphere. Today trade and investment relationships between Brazil and these African countries remain vibrant.

India has also become more involved in Africa, with the development sector being a major focus. It has emphasized capacity-building initiatives, small development projects, technical consultation, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. The Indian African Forum Summit (IAFS) is the main body for India's interactions with Africa. Africa is becoming strategically significant for India. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India gave medical assistance to 25 African countries.

Assessment

  • While the rivalry between the great powers like the U.S., China and Russia in Africa has clearly defined boundaries, this is less the case for the middle powers like India and Brazil.
  • Each competing power has its interests in Africa, some convergent while others are not. However, each is suspicious of the intentions of the other and muddies up the waters, which adds to the agony of Africa; some things never change in geopolitics. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a sad example.
  • It is for the people of African countries and their governments to decide how they handle this interest from the rest of the world to fulfil their interests. Unfortunately, despite its natural wealth and hard-working population, Africa continues to perform far below its potential.