Chinese foreign minister pledges military aid for Africa

Chinese foreign minister pledges military aid for Africa

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar. Photo: Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Source: AFP

Don't miss out! Get your daily dose of sports news straight to your phone. Join YEN's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!

Chinaese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday pledged Beijing's full support and military aid for the world's poorest continent as he wrapped up his Africa tour in Nigeria.

Wang began an Africa tour on January 6, visiting Namibia, the Republic of Congo and Chad before winding up his tour in Nigeria, where he held talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar in the capital Abuja.

"China will firmly support Africans in addressing African issues in the African way, African people are the real masters of this continent," Wang said after talks with Tinubu.

He pledged one billion yuan ($136 million) in military aid to Africa and said China would help train 6,000 troops and 1,000 police officers across the continent.

"China supports Nigeria in rallying countries in the region to achieve strength through unity, to build synergy through reconciliation, and to promote security through cooperation," Wang said Thursday.

Read also

Trade war worries loom over Las Vegas tech show

Wang on Wednesday visited the Chadian capital N'Djamena just hours before two dozen armed assailants tried to storm the presidential palace in a failed bid that left 20 dead.

One of China's key trade partners in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria exports gas and oil to Beijing and imports manufactured products from the country.

Trade trade between the two nations amounted to $22.6 billion in 2023, according to Abuja.

Geopolitical rivalry

The geopolitical rivalry that has played out in Africa between former colonial rulers and nations like China, Russia and Turkey, has intensified since a wave of military coups toppled leaders in multiple West African countries in recent years.

Many former French colonies have severed ties with Paris and looked increasingly towards Moscow, Beijing, Ankara and Tehran.

China is Africa's top business partner, with $167.8 billion worth of trade in the first quarter of 2024, official Chinese media reported.

Read also

Bangladesh garment industry rebounds, but workers say little change

Beijing has sent hundreds of thousands of workers and engineers to Africa and gained strategic access to its vast mineral riches including copper, gold and lithium.

Chinese public bank loans have helped African nations finance construction projects and build infrastructure but the funds have led to deepening debt in some countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping in September met with about 50 African leaders, including Nigeria's head of state, in a China-Africa cooperation summit during which he promised the continent $50 billion in aid over three years.

Analysts say Beijing's largesse towards Africa is being recalibrated in the face of economic trouble at home and that geopolitical concerns over a growing tussle with the United States may increasingly be driving policy.

New feature: Сheck out news that is picked for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.