China’s military presence in Africa: Implications for Africa’s wobbling peace

Abstract

This paper surveys the military aspect of the age-long interaction between China and Africa, and how it impacts the peace of Africa. Issues that border on China-Africa relations have no doubt gained currency in academic discourses centering mainly on trade, and economic related factors. But the military dimensions of the relationship, especially China’s military involvement in Africa are passing with minimal scholarly attention, yet needing examination. Within the general ambit of China’s expanding engagement in Africa, this paper discusses the military factor. It historically contextualizes China-African military links, and argues that China’s continued arms sales to Africa’s problem areas, cynical military relations and support to rogue and blood-thirst regimes, and her double-dealing peacekeeping roles in Africa, do not help the peace condition of Africa’s wobbling states