Over 120 years ago, Africa became the subject of an extended land-grab orchestrated by European powers. The first ‘scramble’ for the continent subjected the majority of African citizens to foreign rule from the 1880s onwards.
Now, a second race to utilise the continent’s riches (or develop them - depending on your perspective) is in full swing. But this time instead of using heavy-handed tactics, the ‘colonisers’ come baring gifts.
China’s pledge of $10bn in aid to the continent is the latest manifestation of China’s increased interest in Africa.
The media coverage of this act has been treated very differently by Chinese and Western press.
The Chinese press has focused on the completion of their pledge on aid made in 2006, and the gratitude of the premiers of those countries included.
Some sections of the western press however, have discussed the hidden agenda behind the aid - namely to facilitate Chinese business interests.
China is not the only country that uses aid to further their own position. Many European countries, Russia and the United States in particular are all guilty of doing the same on a smaller-scale.
Equally, the IMF and World Bank loans, which are presided over in the main by western countries, are subject to strict conditions that dictate countries must open their borders to foreign goods and trade. In effect, these conditions allow the western business model to thrive in those countries and open up a new market for western goods. Some view this as exploitation and a ‘new colonialism’.
Al-Jazeera contends that Chinese companies are becoming more successful in Africa than western companies because they do not tell the countries they invest in how to run themselves. Instead they are just concerned with the mutual benefits of their business deal – in short their deals are based on an equal footing.
The western media however, accuses Chinese companies of supporting governments that are known abusers of human rights and of not aiding the development process by setting targets. The Chinese view is that just because Chinese companies are doing business in particular countries, it does not mean they support the activities of those countries’ governments.
Perhaps the more serious charge however, is that the Chinese tend to import their own labour to work on the joint projects rather than utilising the local labour and spreading the wealth into the country.
Regardless of the opinions, the fact remains that the Africa countries are once again not at the forefront of their own destinies.
