<incom> African and Chineses CSOs discuss China in Africa

[Soenke Zehle]

<http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/41746>
African and Chineses CSOs discuss China in Africa
Hakima Abbas (2007-05-31)

Heads of State, foreign ministers and central bank governors from 
seventy seven African nations met in Shanghai, China, last week for the 
African Development Bank’s (AfDB) annual meetings. The location of the 
meetings was pertinently and historically chosen in light of growing 
Sino-African relations, which, at the governmental level, have reached 
soaring heights and dimensions. Yet to be foreseen, however, are the 
implications for the people of Africa and China. It is to this 
uncertainty that a discussion was held on the peripheries of the AfDB 
fanfare between African and Chinese non-governmental actors in a meeting 
convened by China Development Brief, Fahamu, Focus on the Global South 
and the Transnational Institute.

The historic meeting of Chinese, African and other Southern 
non-governmental actors allowed for contemplative discussion and debate 
among academics, researchers and civil society organisations through 
open and critical dialogue. Participants included representatives from 
China, Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Benin, South Africa, Mozambique, 
Burma, the Philippines, the Netherlands, UK, USA, Brazil, India and 
Australia. A new and nuanced perspective was illuminated that was 
neither merely rejectionist nor unquestionably accepting. The meetings 
began with reflections on the nature of Sino-African relations exploring 
the charges of neo-colonialism versus the expressions of South-South 
cooperation and mutual aid.

At the outset of the debates, Prof. Yan Hirong of the Department of 
Sociology at the University of Hong Kong challenged the vilification of 
Chinese relations in Africa in western media. She noted the importance 
of putting these trade and investment relations in the perspective of 
global trends where China is still a small player in Africa. However, 
Daniel Ribeiro from Justiça Ambiental in Mozambique observed that the 
impact of deforestation or the removal of livelihood on a community is 
itself colossal regardless of the size of Chinese investments in the 
particular nation. It is this impact that creates popular perceptions of 
Sino-African relations. Indeed, journalist Wang Yongcheng suggested that 
Chinese people view China to be helping Africa and are disconcerted by 
the apparent criticism and lack of appreciation. She said that little is 
heard in China about any negative effects of China’s involvement in the 
Continent. Ali Askouri, Piankhi Institute, provided an example of where 
Chinese corporations have been involved in projects that have a negative 
impact on communities in Africa. The Merowe Dam Project in Sudan is the 
largest hydropower project currently under construction in Africa. It is 
being implemented by two Chinese contractors and funded largely by China 
Export Import Bank. The construction of the dam will however cause the 
displacement, and affect the very survival, of some seventy thousand 
people living along the riverbanks. In Mr. Askouri’s view, it is 
unconstructive to debate whether Chinese actions are worse or better 
than those of western States as all actors should be held to the highest 
standards of accountability. Rather, he turned to his Chinese 
counterparts to find out how affected communities can effect change in 
the practice of Chinese corporations in Africa.

China’s government espouses the tenets of non-interference and 
non-conditionality in Africa as demonstrating recognition of 
self-determination in contrast to the neo-colonialist conditionality of 
western donors. Professor Xu Weizhong from the Chinese Academy of Social 
Sciences considered hypocritical the cant advanced by western nations 
that perpetuates the perception of Africa as an economic burden rather 
than the prop from which industrialisation of the north was achieved and 
continues to be upheld. And in the same vein noted that “in the end 
Africans must be the deciders of their own destiny and must have the 
right to say whether their relationship with China is good for them or not.”

The non-interference and no-conditionality policy has many critics 
charging China with failing to encourage good governance. But yet 
African participants like Ali Askouri were not asking China to not 
invest in Africa, in fact he noted that the affected communities along 
the Nile River basin of Sudan are not, per se, against the dam project, 
but sought avenues to constructively bring the voices of Africa’s people 
to the table and wondered what role Chinese civil society could play in 
holding their government accountable.

While Chinese civil society is growing, it is still testing its position 
relative to the government and the people of China. Organizations are 
primarily focused nationally and have little experience or knowledge of 
China’s actions internationally despite parallel issues of concern. 
Their relations with the government tend to be cooperative rather than 
antagonist given that influence is most effectively leveraged in China 
through negotiation rather than the “naming and shaming” style of 
western NGOs. African civil society tends to be experienced and mature 
in their advocacy nationally and regionally but have little 
understanding and exposure to Chinese political waters and processes for 
change. The meeting began a much-needed open dialogue that needs to be 
continued and increased to enhance the opportunities of Sino-Chinese 
relations for communities in Africa and China.

The special issue of Pambazuka News, African Perspective on China in 
Africa (http://www.pambazuka.org/en/issue/282), was translated (courtesy 
of China Development Brief) into Chinese and distributed to participants 
at the meeting.

At the meeting, Hakima Abbas discussed the outcome of the meeting with 
two of the African participants whose attendance at the meeting was 
facilitated by Fahamu.

Interview with Sara Musa El Saeed, a consultant with Christian Aid, 
Sudan. Being a consultant most of the answers are the personal 
perspective of the interviewee.

Pambazuka News: Why do you feel a meeting of African and Chinese 
non-governmental actors is important at this time?

Sara Musa El Saeed: Until now most of Africa-China relationships (or at 
least in the case of Sudan) are at the political/governmental level with 
minimum, if any, other levels of involvement. It is felt that 
non-governmental sector involvement might help in maintaining fair and 
just relationship with communities’ rights and concerns being observed. 
There is complete ignorance from both Chinese as well as African civil 
society organisations such as existing organisations, their focus, 
scope, expertise etc., which are the basic information required if any 
future cooperation is to take place thus this meeting is hoped to 
provide this forum for getting to know each other.

Pambazuka News: What are your key reflections on Sino-Africans relations 
coming out of the China in Africa meeting?

Sara Musa El Saeed: Still, I feel the two sides don’t know each other 
well enough to be able to plan future plans and/or joint activities or 
cooperation, so I think this meeting needs to be followed up with 
continued dialogue and discussions as well as other more specific 
meetings to create windows for discussion on specific issues such as the 
environment, HIV/AIDS etc., just to mention a few of the issues raised 
during the meeting.

Also, the general public on the two sides are not aware of what is going 
on, how this might affect them, how to address the relations, both to 
maintain best benefits out of this involvement as well as stop any 
harmful effects that might result for the two sides. I believe that this 
could be the role of the CSOs on the two sides of the equation. There 
are many similarities in the areas of concerns such as the environment, 
funding, political environment that could be prohibiting at some points, 
HIV/ADS, funding constraints which the two sides could cooperate in 
solving and share their available expertise and know-how. However this 
needs to build trust, contacts/connections and exchange of information, 
which cannot happen without closer contacts and knowing each other.

Pambazuka News: How do you think African civil society can enhance the 
opportunities and mitigate the threat of Chinese relations with Africa?

Sara Musa El Saeed: CSOs are in direct contact with communities that 
might be affected by these relationships. In many cases they are in a 
better position to get information and knowledge of the type and effects 
of the relationship in the respective area/region and assess the damage 
that might result from it. Also and hopefully they can be the organisers 
of their communities to plan and act together to mitigate and address 
such negative impacts. In fact what I am also dreaming of is that these 
meetings form a discussion area for African CSOs among themselves to 
organise networks and regional groups in case of larger effects that 
might affect the region (such as in the case of forests that are shared 
among more than one country, dams such as along the Nile basin etc.). 
Also (I might be dreaming) but if the same happened among Chinese CSOs 
and these groups from the two sides joined hands and formed pressure 
groups and information exchange centres I think CSOs would be a real 
force to stop negative impacts of any governmental or economical agreements.

Pambazuka News: How do you envisage Chinese and African civil society 
organizations, academics and researchers developing alliance to enhance 
the opportunities for communities in Africa and China?

Sara Musa El Saeed: As I said in the beginning, there is a knowledge and 
information gap among CSOs on the two sides and I think it is the role 
of the academics from the two sides to provide this missing information 
through research, studies, policy analysis and reforms etc.

Pambazuka News: What concrete outcomes do you hope to implement, or be a 
part of, coming out of the meeting in Shanghai?

Sara Musa El Saeed: We need to start thinking of how to keep the 
momentum and consolidate the Shanghai meeting by setting goals and 
future plans, this could be done by having continued dialogue and 
discussions among the current group, and I would be happy to take part 
in these discussions and dialogue be it through emails, meetings etc. In 
terms of follow up action, this is something I was hoping to come up 
very clearly from the meeting, however I think there has been some 
points raised which need to be followed up and formulated in the form of 
future plans or follow up action and again I would be happy to help in 
formulating these plans. I will be sharing the report of the meeting, 
which I hope to get from the organisers, as well as my own report and 
would be discussing with Christian Aid what role they can play in future 
actions.


Interview with Charles Mutasa, Executive Director of AFRODAD, Zimbabwe

Pambazuka News: Why do you feel a meeting of African and Chinese 
non-governmental actors is important at this time?

Charles Mutasa: There is more Chinese involvement in the African 
continent than ever before. A lot of business deals are being sealed 
between African leaders and Chinese leaders. Citizen concerns over the 
new investors in the continent have been voiced within many civil 
society platforms. The Sino-Africa summits at the African Union level 
have signalled to the world the need to interrogate this new phenomenon. 
Many countries are resorting to China as a counter weight for their 
tired relations with the west - the “look east” policy. China has been 
mentioned as supporting dictatorships in Africa especially the Sudanese 
government over Darfur human rights abuses and, as such, there is need 
to interrogate the new Chinese interest versus human rights.

Pambazuka News: What are your key reflections on Sino-Africans relations 
coming out of the China in Africa meeting?

Charles Mutasa: There is no citizens’ involvement in the whole 
Sino-African relations. This needs to be factored in by building CSO 
networks and linkages. There is a need to identify the best practices of 
the Sino-Africans relations and strengthen them and at the same time do 
away with weaknesses or disadvantages to Africa from the linkage. There 
is also a need to avoid the problems Africa had with the bank and IMF 
and ensure that they are not repeated in Sino-Africans relations. Both 
the Chinese and African governments must be engaged on issues of human 
rights and environmental protection, among others, as they do their 
business. People to people relations can also better transform the 
Sino-Africans relations – if there relations remain solely at the 
political leadership level the continent will benefit very little. Thus 
linking CSOs, academics, experts and others will help nurture the 
relations for the benefit of all.

Pambazuka News: How do you think African civil society can enhance the 
opportunities and mitigate the threat of Chinese relations with Africa ?

Charles Mutasa: At a regional level CSOs need to use various platforms 
(ECOSOCC, NEPAD, UNECA, trade unions, women movements and Pan African 
Parliament) to engage African leadership and advise it on the best way 
forward. The AU must have one continental approach guiding country 
engagements with China - it must be strategic and based on comparative 
advantage. The use of research, advocacy and the media will help in this 
case. Exposing, naming and shaming certain deals can help ease the 
situation. At a national level, open and transparent country 
stakeholders debates and assessment of projects and deals will help.

Pambazuka News: How do you envisage Chinese and African civil society 
organizations, academics and researchers developing alliance to enhance 
the opportunities for communities in Africa and China?

Charles Mutasa: There is a need to have exchange programs between 
Chinese and African NGOs; the promotion of sports, competition and 
cultural activities; university to university linkages; joint field 
missions to projects; annual meetings and Sino-Africans side events.

Pambazuka News: What concrete outcomes do you hope to implement, or be a 
part of, coming out of the meeting in Shanghai ?

Charles Mutasa: Exchange programs between China and African NGOs, joint 
field missions to projects and joint research and advocacy activities.


Interview with Antony Otieno Ong’ayo, Transnational Institute, The 
Netherlands. Country of Origin: Kenya

Pambazuka News: Why do you feel a meeting of African and Chinese 
non-governmental actors is important at this time?

Antony Otieno Ong’ayo: The meeting improved the NGO’s knowledge on 
policy issues, relevant national legislation and policies in their 
respective areas of engagement as well as relevant knowledge sharing 
resources (this implies sharing examples, experiences and lessons with 
peers).

Pambazuka News: What are your key reflections on Sino-Africans relations 
coming out of the China in Africa meeting?

Antony Otieno Ong’ayo: The need for partnerships and programmes focusing 
on learning more about how CSOs use evidence to influence policy 
processes, improving information and communication activities. The need 
for Chinese and African NGOs to take advantage of new circumstances, and 
focus on how to make use of interactive technology since technology is 
not only a tool but part of a co-evolutionary process that shapes 
organizational forms and practices. The need to access correct 
information from government as a way of finding issues to raise with them.

Pambazuka News: How do you think African civil society can enhance the 
opportunities and mitigate the threat of Chinese relations with Africa?

Antony Otieno Ong’ayo: Engagement in the transformation of national, 
international and trans-national political space. The need for 
consultations in different geographical regions of the developing world 
to learn more about the role that CSOs currently play in using evidence 
to promote development policy and practice, and explore what they need 
to do better.

Pambazuka News: How do you envisage Chinese and African civil society 
organizations, academics and researchers developing alliance to enhance 
the opportunities for communities in Africa and China?

Antony Otieno Ong’ayo: Working together to generate useful insights for 
improved practices. Identify opportunities for small-scale collaborative 
work and exchange programmes (at institutional, organisational and 
individual consultation capacity).

Pambazuka News: What concrete outcomes do you hope to implement, or be a 
part of, coming out of the meeting in Shanghai?

Antony Otieno Ong’ayo: Undertaking research in any area of China-Africa 
relations, the impact of Chinese investment from various perspectives 
especially on labour and human rights issues, the impact on policy 
issues among African governments, writing for publications in China and 
Africa (for China Development Brief and Pambazuka if frameworks for such 
contributions are created).

There is a need for another forum where concrete issues can be discussed 
as a follow up to the Shanghai meeting. In this meeting, concrete 
measures and action frameworks can be developed whereby some clear 
objectives could be set and an action plan developed to help realise 
such objectives. They can include joint activities (research, surveys, 
but also experience and information sharing which can be documented and 
shared between NGOs in China and Africa). Some policy recommendations 
can be developed for use in the dialogue process with Chinese and 
African governments of specific issues that are the main concern of 
civil society in both continents. A dialogue framework can also be 
developed through which those participating in the China Africa 
relations can engage with the African and Chinese governments, investors 
and financial institutions concerned as an alternative voice to 
influence policy on behalf of the communities affected by either 
political or economic policies that are implemented under Sino-Africa 
relations.

* Hakima Abbas is AU Policy Analyst with Fahamu