Africa’s relations with emerging powers are growing driven by trade, investment and geopolitics. These emerging powers are playing an increasingly role in Africa. China, India, Brazil and Turkey are the emerging powers of the world.
These emerging experts from the world are developing their political and economic relations with African countries in pursuit of complex strategic goals including access to our natural resources and influence. These relationships bring significant opportunities for growth and progress but also present long term challenges.
The metaphor of a *double edged sword* is true becuse Africa’s relations with these countries offer development but comes with a long term interest.
I believe that for African governments to engage in bilateral and multilateral relationships with external stakeholders and international bodies, there must be a broad public knowledge and understanding of what these external interests are.
Let me start with China, China is Africa’s largest trading partner with trade exceeding $200 billion annually. Some of the African exports to China are Minerals like Copper, iron, timber. The main aim of China relations to Africa is getting access to our natural resources and Diplomatic Alliances; this is so because, they want to compete with Western powers.
Another emerging power is India. India relations to Africa is purely interest because Africa is a significant growing partner for India with bilateral trade valued at over $100 billion annually. India mostly imports crude oil and minerals from Africa and Africa’s resources like gold, diamond etc are vital for India’s growth. India’s interest is to enhance their global influence resources by development assistance and strategic partnerships.
These emerging powers have been supporting Africa in various forms which has its own positive sides and negative sides. Some of the positives sides are Economic growth and investment, Infrastructure development, Job creation and Industrialization. And some of the negatives are resource exploitation, loss of sovereignty, Trade imbalances and Geopolitical risks.
As an International Relations and Diplomacy pundit, the Africa relations with the emerging powers is inherently complex. While it provides critical economic, security, and developmental support, the imbalance in power dynamics means that African nations must carefully navigate these ties to ensure they align with their own long-term goals.
Globalization is a double-edged sword. It connects us, but it also exposes our vulnerabilities- Joseph Stiglitz.
In conclusion, I believe it is a double edged sword offering both opportunities and challenges in the global world
By: Mohammed Tayib Salis
Bsc, Pc(B&RM), MA(B&CM), MA(IR&D)
