China's New Silk Road in Africa

This goal has become the Beijing government's greatest economic challenge in recent decades, amid the need to turn the nation into a global superpower.  

This strategy seeks to strengthen the already consolidated relations that have been established between China and the African continent over the last 15 years, contributing to the socio-economic development and modernisation of African countries in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, green energy and the digital economy. Half of these countries recorded double-digit increases in their trade volumes with China between 2023 and 2024, according to Hu Changchun, head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU). 

Also known as the New Silk Road, the aim is to secure China's access to energy and mineral supplies, where the African continent plays an important role. Starting from Nairobi to the Horn of Africa, crossing the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, Xi seeks to reach the Mediterranean safely after passing through the Suez Canal. This transcontinental expansion strategy brings with it infrastructure improvement projects in all African countries through which this New Silk Road is to be traced, but at the same time, criticism of its implementation has been voiced. 

With more than 50.7 billion dollars invested in Africa through the BRI by 2024, according to France 24 (2024), for the construction of roads, railways and ports, this is a project that has been heavily criticised by countries in the region due to its environmental costs and poor working conditions, as well as committing countries to unmanageable levels of debt, especially in the wake of the devastation caused by the pandemic. 

Despite everything, the modernisation of infrastructure in African countries also represents an opportunity for foreign investment by other participating countries, benefiting not only local economies but also large companies by giving them the opportunity to establish strategic operations on the routes crossed by the commercial project. For emerging markets, this is also a unique opportunity to diversify their markets and expand their customer base, where the ease and speed that would be achieved with these new trade shortcuts would be innovative. 

The influence, investment and strengthening of alliances and relations between the Beijing government and the African continent represent a potential threat as it expands with the New Silk Road through more countries seeking to be part of it. With 53 of 54 African countries participating, China is consolidating its position as the largest trading partner on the entire continent, giving it the opportunity to pursue its economic and political influence objectives. 

With this window of opportunity now open, China is seeking to position itself as a mediator and completely change its strategy, acting as an entity for peace and conflict resolution. This can be seen in the action it is now seeking to take in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, where it intends to take advantage of the lack of action on the part of the United States. This is a situation that has been expressed by Craig Singleton, a researcher at the Think Tank for the Defence of Democracies in Washington, who states: ‘Xi's message is clear: the current US order has failed to bring peace or prosperity to many developing nations, and a new order is needed to address today's problems and anticipate tomorrow's challenges.’ 

The prosperity of developing nations and the ability to face today's problems and anticipate tomorrow's challenges is a discourse behind which the Beijing government has taken refuge when proposing the New Silk Road, where the improvement of both maritime and land infrastructure seeks to reduce poverty rates through development, with consequences and a high price that African nations are not equipped to bear. 

With the new Silk Road spreading across the African continent, China is not only strengthening its economic and strategic presence, but also turning Africa into the epicentre of a silent dispute between development and dependence. A promise of growth and modernisation clashes with a reality of debt, imbalances and geopolitical tensions that the most vulnerable nations must endure. On the global stage, Africa is not only a strategic partner, but also represents a battleground that will determine who will lead tomorrow's world order.