AfriForum and Opinor release report on China’s increasing influence in Africa
21 June 2020
The civil rights organisation AfriForum and the think tank Opinor today released a report on China’s increasing influence on the African continent. The report shows that China’s involvement in Africa has negative implications for the continent and its communities. These include environmental damage, anti-democratic practices, lack of transparency, unlawful behaviour and the violation of workers’ rights. China also abuses the situation – when African countries fail as a result of socialist policies or poor governance – to increase its influence by attaching unfavourable conditions to any assistance it provides to countries that are in desperate need of investments.
Opinor was requested by AfriForum to conduct high-level research into China’s involvement in Africa and South Africa in particular, after the organisation had received numerous enquiries regarding Chinese operations in South Africa.
The findings also formed part of the discussions that Ernst Roets, Head of Policy and Action at AfriForum, had with various stakeholders in the USA earlier this year. AfriForum will now distribute the report’s findings locally and internationally to inform domestic and foreign stakeholders about the negative role that China plays in Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook several trips to China and announced a partnership and trade agreements with China without providing any details about the implications for South African taxpayers or citizens.