Belt and Road Investment in Africa: Mining, Transport, and Telecom

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of “One Belt, One Road” Initiative, or “The Belt and Road Initiative'' (BRI), that China has aggressively embarked on since 2013, focusing on Africa. Through the use of 3 examples, it demonstrates that the positive impact of these initiatives has been heavily skewed towards China, leaving the African countries and their respective populations worse off than before. This paper highlights China’s growing clout with the ruling elite in African nations, Chinese political and economic control over the continent, and how control could be more detrimental to future developments in the region. The paper further explains how Chinese ownership and operation of mines to extract metals, crucial to the world economy and industry, have morphed themselves to establish China’s dominance of Africa economically and geopolitically. The rise of the digital economy of Africa, under Chinese domination, and the authoritarian practices of digital surveillance and control resulting from this rise are also discussed. As a way to restore equity for the African nations and better trade participation by other countries in the world, this paper argues for the establishment of robust political and economic institutions, better bilateral trade agreements, and a better sharing of experiences and expertise between African nations.