In the wake of the landmark 2024 China-Africa summit, the African continent finds itself at a critical juncture, poised to redefine its engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
This ambitious global infrastructure development strategy, once viewed with a mix of enthusiasm and trepidation, has undergone a significant transformation. As African leaders return from Beijing with renewed commitments and revised agreements, the continent stands on the cusp of a new era in Sino-African relations, one that promises both opportunities and challenges.
The summit marked a pivotal moment in the BRI’s evolution, signalling a shift from quantity to quality in China’s approach to African development. This recalibration reflects a growing recognition of past criticisms and a genuine attempt to address concerns that have long plagued BRI projects across the continent.
One of the most significant outcomes of the summit was the emphasis on “high-quality” projects. This new focus represents a tangible shift towards initiatives that promise sustainable development, technology transfer, and capacity building. For African nations, this presents an unprecedented opportunity to be more selective and strategic in their BRI engagements.
Take, for instance, the case of Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). While the first phase of this project faced criticism over costs and debt concerns, the new approach could see future extensions designed with greater emphasis on local content, skills transfer, and integration with regional transport networks. Similarly, Ethiopia’s industrial parks, developed under the BRI framework, could now focus more on creating sustainable supply chains and fostering local entrepreneurship rather than just serving as export hubs.
The summit also highlighted a growing focus on digital infrastructure and green energy projects, aligning with Africa’s aspirations to leapfrog traditional development stages.
Investments in 5G networks, smart cities, and renewable energy could position Africa at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. For instance, Rwanda’s partnership with Chinese tech giants to develop smart city solutions in Kigali could serve as a model for tech-driven urban development across the continent.
The proposed Green Silk Road, which aims to incorporate sustainable practices into BRI projects, could see more solar and wind farms developed across Africa, similar to the successful Lake Turkana Wind Power project in Kenya.
This shift towards high-tech and sustainable development aligns perfectly with Africa’s aspirations for leapfrogging traditional development stages. However, the path forward is not without its complexities.
The history of BRI in Africa has raised legitimate concerns over debt sustainability, environmental impact, and labour practices. The Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka, while not in Africa, serves as a cautionary tale of the potential pitfalls of BRI projects. African leaders must ensure that new agreements include safeguards against such outcomes.
While the 2024 summit addressed these issues head-on, with promises of more transparent financing and environmentally conscious projects, the real test lies in the implementation of these commitments. African leaders must remain vigilant, ensuring that the new wave of BRI projects truly serves the continent’s best interests.
The evolving nature of the BRI also comes at a time when Africa is strengthening its continental integration efforts through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This presents a unique opportunity to align BRI projects with AfCFTA objectives, ensuring that new infrastructure serves intra-African trade and industrialisation efforts rather than solely facilitating exports to China.
The potential expansion of port facilities in West Africa, for example, should be designed not just to facilitate exports to China but to boost regional trade within the AfCFTA framework. By aligning BRI projects with AfCFTA objectives, African nations have a unique opportunity to ensure that new infrastructure serves intra-African trade and industrialisation.
Moreover, the summit highlighted a growing recognition of Africa’s strategic importance in the global geopolitical landscape. As international competition for influence in Africa intensifies, African nations find themselves with increased leverage.
This newfound bargaining power allows for more favourable terms in BRI agreements, including better financing conditions, increased technology transfer, and more significant roles for local companies and workers in project implementation.
The recent renegotiation of loan terms for Angola’s oil-backed infrastructure projects with China serves as a precedent for how African countries can assert their interests more effectively in BRI negotiations.
Realising these potential benefits requires more than just Chinese investment. African governments must step up their efforts in creating conducive environments for these projects to thrive. This includes strengthening governance structures, improving regulatory frameworks, and investing in education and skills development.
Countries like Ethiopia and Rwanda, which have clear national development strategies, have been more successful in aligning BRI projects with their domestic priorities. Their approaches could serve as models for other African nations seeking to maximise the benefits of BRI engagement.
To fully capitalise on the opportunities presented by the evolving BRI, African governments should consider the following policy recommendations: Establishing dedicated BRI coordination offices to ensure coherence with national development plans and AfCFTA objectives. Implementing robust project evaluation mechanisms that prioritise economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social impact.
Negotiating for knowledge transfer clauses in all BRI agreements, ensuring that projects contribute to building local capacity. Developing and enforcing local content policies to maximise job creation and skills development for African workers and businesses. Lastly, strengthening regional cooperation to negotiate BRI projects that enhance continental integration and intra-African trade.
It’s also crucial for African nations to diversify their partnerships beyond the BRI. The U.S.-led Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative and the EU’s Global Gateway strategy offer alternative models for infrastructure development. By engaging with multiple partners, African countries can leverage competition to secure better terms and reduce dependency on any single source of funding.
Transparency and governance will be pivotal in realising the potential benefits of the BRI. African civil society, media, and academic institutions must play an active role in scrutinising projects, ensuring that the terms of engagement are favourable to African interests and holding both African and Chinese stakeholders accountable. The establishment of joint monitoring mechanisms, as proposed during the summit, is a promising start, but its effectiveness will depend on rigorous implementation and genuine commitment from all parties involved.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that the success of the BRI in Africa will be measured not by the number of projects or the amount of investment but by the tangible improvements in the lives of African citizens. Job creation, skills development, and the growth of local industries should be the benchmarks against which BRI projects are evaluated.
The 2024 summit may have set the stage, but the real work begins now. Translating the promises and agreements into tangible benefits for African citizens will require unwavering commitment, strategic foresight, and united action from African leaders.
As the continent stands at this crossroads, the choices made today will shape the trajectory of African development for generations to come. With careful planning, strong negotiation, and a clear vision for the future, Africa can ensure that this new chapter in Sino-African relations becomes a true win-win scenario, propelling the continent towards a future of prosperity, innovation, and global leadership.
The evolving Belt and Road Initiative, if navigated wisely, could indeed be a catalyst for Africa’s economic renaissance. By demanding projects that create local jobs, facilitate genuine technology transfer, and adhere to stringent environmental and social standards, African countries can ensure that the New Silk Road leads to sustainable and inclusive growth across the continent.
By Leshan Loonena Naisho
He is an accomplished political economist with a master’s in International Political Economy. His academic focus centres on political economy, development policy, and international relations, particularly the governance of economic development and the influence of foreign policy on global markets.
