China blasts U.S. for ‘coercive diplomacy’ in Africa and beyond

China blasts U.S. for ‘coercive diplomacy’ in Africa and beyond

The Chinese government issued a withering critique of the United States on Thursday, in a lengthy document that targeted American actions across the globe, including the African continent. “The United States is the inventor and master of coercive diplomacy,” said the report, called “America’s Coercive Diplomacy and Its Harm.” In…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

U.S. diplomats, academics call for sanctions against Tunisia

U.S. diplomats, academics call for sanctions against Tunisia

President Kais Saïed needs to face “real costs to democratic backsliding” in the increasingly authoritarian Tunisia, according to nearly two dozen former U.S. diplomats and academic experts calling for—among other things—economic sanctions and a hold on a controversial US$1.9 billion International Monetary Fund loan. “The U.S. should immediately suspend all…

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

EAC court to begin hearings on Uganda, Tanzania oil pipeline

The East African Court of Justice is set to hear arguments on whether or not it has jurisdiction in a legal battle over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), with the governments of Uganda and Tanzania among the parties challenging whether the case, brought by activists seeking to stop…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Debt relief on the table as Ethiopians visit China

A high-level Ethiopian delegation’s visit to Beijing has led to speculation about how China is dealing with the African nation’s deepening debt crisis, but a spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied any plans to restructure Ethiopian debt. “China takes the debt issue of developing countries seriously…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

China’s new foreign minister begins 5-nation tour in Ethiopia

Newly appointed Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday, as part of Beijing’s tradition to begin each year with a diplomatic tour of African nations. Talks in Ethiopia focused on investment and economic development, according to Ethiopian officials. “The relationship between the two countries remains steadfast,” said…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

China, Russia align at BRICS session on security

China hosted Wednesday’s meeting on security among BRICS nations, with South Africa, Russia, Brazil and India attending the virtual session led by Yang Jiechi, director of China’s foreign affairs commission. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping expressed mutual solidarity on political issues including China’s proposed Global…

Afwerki defends Russia, China in Eritrean Independence Day speech

President Isaias Afwerki, authoritarian leader of Eritrea, defended both Russia and China while holding the West responsible for the situation in Ukraine, during a speech marking Independence Day in the Horn of Africa nation. Afwerki, in office since 1991—a tenure that places him among Africa’s longest-running leaders—drew parallels to his…

China pushes back at U.S. over Huawei-Africa comments

The Chinese government has pushed back over remarks about telecom firm Huawei and its presence on the African continent, made by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman of the United States. Sherman made her comments during a just-concluded diplomatic swing through South Africa, Angola and Gabon. In Angola, she visited…

China pledges 1B COVID vaccine doses for Africa

President Xi Jinping of China has pledged to deliver another 1 billion COVID vaccine doses to the African continent, an announcement he made during his speech to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Dakar. Xi said 600 million doses of China’s vaccines will be donated while the other…