Is China a “Friend” to Africa? Politics vs. Public Opinion

China plays a complex and increasingly important political and economic role in many African nations, including Nigeria. Do African elected leaders feel that their dependence on Chinese financing means they must defer to China on policy? Does political expediency match public opinion? Do most people in Africa view China as friendly? What impact have recent controversies about worker mistreatment, racism and corruption had? Have they sparked an African backlash against China?

Dr. Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU), says, “Governments don’t want to offend, they don’t want to irritate Beijing. But the people on the other side recently are not sharing that same view.”

This interview was recorded in 2020.

source