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Why in the News?
The first “China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference” was held recently.
About Horn of Africa:
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China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference 2022:
Key Participants:
Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
In this edition of the conference, China has outlined its vision “to play a role in the area of security” besides keeping emphasis on investments and raw materials.
Chinese project in the Horn of Africa:
In 2021 entire region of the Horn participated and four resolutions were adopted:
The Dakar Action Plan
The China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035
The Sino-African Declaration on Climate Change and
The Declaration of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC.
China’s vaccine diplomacy: China donated over 3,00,000 vaccines to Ethiopia and Uganda, and 2,00,000 vaccines to Kenya and Somalia. Sudan and Eritrea have also benefited.
2035 vision for China-Africa cooperation:
Health sector, alleviate poverty, promote trade and investments, digital innovation.
Green development, capacity building and facilitating peace and security in the continent.
China’s Primary Interests in the Horn of Africa:
Infrastructural Projects:
One of its landmark projects was fully funding the USD 200 million African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Mombasa-Nairobi rail link in Kenya
Railway projects in Sudan
Addis-Djibouti railway line
It also has a viable military hardware market in Ethiopia
Financial Assistance:
Ethiopia is one of the top five African recipients of Chinese investments and also has a debt of almost $14 billion.
In 2022, China promised to provide $15.7 million in assistance to Eritrea.
China accounts for 67% of Kenya’s bilateral debt.
Natural Resources:
It has invested $400 million in Mombasa’s oil terminal.
Maritime Interests:
China’s first and only military base outside its mainland is in Djibouti.
China is willing to develop Eritrea’s coast which would connect to China’s investments in land-locked Ethiopia.
India’s concern over China’s presence in Horn of Africa:
Supremacy in the Indian Ocean: China has stepped up activity in the Indian Ocean, which India considers within its sphere of influence. China is building ports and other infrastructure in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Indian Ocean figures prominently in China’s ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative to build a new Silk Route.
India has kept away from OBOR as its centrepiece.
Deepening Military Engagement: China opened its first military base in Djibouti on the red sea.
The small country on the Horn of Africa sits on the western end of China’s long-feared ‘string of pearls’, a strategic containment policy that now seems to be becoming a reality for India as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and other countries in its neighbourhood have developed a growing economic dependency on China.
Way forward:
Africa can no longer be viewed as an intermittent and peripheral interest.
India can advance its security agenda along Africa’s eastern coast. Advancing its interests with the Quad can help deter Chinese navy dominance across the Indian Ocean.
Unlike China, which is actively promoting its model of state-led capitalism and political authoritarianism to African and other developing countries, India can lead by example.
Many African countries resemble the multi-ethnic democracy of India. India’s fast-paced economy and large democracy can offer a developing beacon for the rest of Africa.
