Exploring the Role of Narratives in China-Africa Relations

This report, published by the Africa Policy Research Institute in 2023, examines the diverse narratives surrounding China's engagement in Africa. It challenges binary Western interpretations—which often frame China as either a benevolent partner or a predatory actor—by highlighting the agency of African states and the pragmatic ways they leverage Chinese finance and infrastructure for domestic goals. The document analyzes specific narrative contests, such as the 'debt-trap' discourse and the 'Indo-Pacific' strategic concept, arguing that African perspectives are often marginalized in global policy discussions.

• African perceptions of China and the US are largely similar and not viewed as a zero-sum choice. Afrobarometer survey data from 34 countries indicates that 62% of Africans view China's influence as positive, compared to 60% for the US. Furthermore, 70% of those who prefer the Chinese development model still support democracy, suggesting that welcoming Chinese economic influence does not equate to adopting Chinese political norms.
• The 'debt-trap' narrative, which claims China deliberately creates unsustainable debt to seize state assets, is characterized as state-directed disinformation primarily pushed by US policymakers. The report states that no verified case of coercive asset seizure has been found, despite high-profile claims regarding Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port. However, this narrative has influenced African domestic politics, such as in Uganda, where it dominated legislative hearings on the Entebbe Airport loan despite not being part of the contract.
• African governments exercise strategic agency by leveraging Chinese finance and contractors to achieve domestic industrial and structural transformation. In Ethiopia, the national railway network was used for nation-building and to reinforce the ruling party's legitimacy. In Kenya, the 'Madaraka Express' (SGR) was used by political actors for electoral gain due to the speed of Chinese construction.
• China's development narrative challenges Western-led liberal order institutions by emphasizing state-centric planning and socioeconomic rights over civil and political rights. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China promotes a model of 'Chinese modernization' that it claims is not pursued through 'war, colonization or exploitation,' offering an alternative to the Euro-American model.
• The 'Indo-Pacific' strategic narrative, promoted by the US, Japan, the UK, and others, largely fails to resonate in Africa because it focuses on security tensions in the Pacific and frames China as a threat. African littoral states and islands are unevenly accounted for in these strategies. In contrast, China's BRI narrative finds more resonance among African policy elites as a framework for regional integration.
• While African elites often view Chinese creditors as more flexible and collaborative than Western private creditors—as seen in debt restructuring cases in Angola and Ethiopia—there is growing ambivalence among the general population. This is driven by incidents of racial discrimination during the Covid-19 pandemic and concerns over corruption and opacity in Chinese contracts.

APA

Winter, E., Abimbola, O., & Soulé, F. (2024). Exploring the Role of Narratives in China-Africa Relations. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/exploring-the-role-of-narratives-in-china-africa-relations

Chicago

Winter, Elisabeth, Olumide Abimbola, and Folashadé Soulé. Exploring the Role of Narratives in China-Africa Relations. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/exploring-the-role-of-narratives-in-china-africa-relations.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Winter |first1=Elisabeth |last2=Abimbola |first2=Olumide |last3=Soulé |first3=Folashadé |title=Exploring the Role of Narratives in China-Africa Relations |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=12 June 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/exploring-the-role-of-narratives-in-china-africa-relations |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{winter2024exploring, author = {Winter, Elisabeth and Abimbola, Olumide and Soulé, Folashadé}, title = {{Exploring the Role of Narratives in China-Africa Relations}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = jun, url = {https://afripoli.org/exploring-the-role-of-narratives-in-china-africa-relations}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }