The implications of China's ascendancy for Africa

The origin of the Non-Aligned Movement can be traced back to a conference in Bandung, Indonesia, in 1955, hosted by the leaders of the developing world, at which they declared their desire not to become involved in the East-West ideological confrontation of the Cold War. [...] At the end of the day, it is not the responsibility of 3 | Hany Besada China but, rather, of African leaders to ensure that their respective countries capture the benefits while minimizing the downside of China’s interest in the continent – a policy prescription that holds true for defining the terms of engagement of any external power. [...] Since the end of the civil war in 2002, Angola had been negotiating with the IMF to establish a formal financial arrangement designed to give the government access to lending facilities, but the negotiations fell apart over the issue of revenue transparency. [...] The growth of Chinese FDI in construction and infrastructure projects reflects China’s commitment to a deeper imprint on the continent, with the strategic aim of achieving parity with the West, particularly the United States. [...] In January 2008, the Chinese government announced a donation of some US$500,000 in humanitarian aid to Somalia 25 | Hany Besada through the World Health Organization.27 In both Liberia and the Central African Republic, China provided direct funding for training programs to strengthen the capacity of the civil service in those countries.