War on the Rocks published on 3 February 2020 a commentary titled “Africa: The First U.S. Casualty of the New Information Warfare against China” by Caleb Slayton, a U.S. foreign area officer who lived and worked in Africa for 12 years prior to serving as director for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, Africa course.
The author concludes that American officials argue China’s efforts yield little good for Africa and ultimately intend to indebt the continent to China. The focus on China overlooks the needs and ambitions of African partners, the key stakeholders in the U.S.-Africa relationship. African countries are not choosing sides, but increasingly developing a preference for China. The U.S. narrative misrepresents China’s strategy, underestimates its influence, and downplays what a majority of Africa’s population really thinks about China partnerships and great-power competition.
