Kofi Ampeah Woode
The 3rd China-Africa Peace and Security Forum has been held with over one hundred representatives of Defence, military leaders and attaches, from 50 African countries and the African Union (AU), to capitalize on shared experiences, foster mutual understanding, and boost practical cooperation on peace and security.
The forum, which also sought to offer African countries an alternative model for growth and development that is different from Western models, took place from Monday August 28 to Saturday September 2, 2023, in Beijing, the national capital of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The China-Africa Peace and Security Forum provides a common platform for military officials from both sides to convene and discuss issues of mutual interest, with two primary goals of i) consolidating networks of strategic communications between Chinese and African defence departments; and ii) exploring how African militaries can be synchronized with China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI).
The forum, which was held under the theme “Implementing the Global Security Initiative, Strengthening China-Africa Solidarity and Cooperation”, additionally aims to consolidate communications among defence departments of China and African nations, and play a positive role in building the China-Africa community with a shared future.
The GSI is China’s ideated regional and global architecture and is an effort to shape a new world order with Chinese characteristics, and was espoused by His Excellency (HE) President Xi Jinping, during the Boao Forum in April 2022, after which a Concept Paper was released in early 2023, to boost its capabilities.
The GSI, of which respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is one of the key tenets, offers a new direction for rooting up the very source of international conflicts, coping with international security challenges, and realizing peace and development around the globe.
It is the view of many a defence and security terrain watcher that, China seeks to assert its position as a significant player in African affairs, through the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, thus expanding its global influence, and also cultivating positive relations across the continent.
As concerns the GSI in particular, some opine that its projects must complement existing strategies, particularly the implementation of peace agreements and the involvement of relevant rival factions, towards peacebuilding.
It is also the considered view of some that strengthening China-Africa security cooperation against the backdrop of an environment global, that is swiftly evolving, China and African countries are striving for their own development, and thus the partnership helps create a more secure space of development for China, Africa and the world at large.
Speaking as one of the guests at the forum, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye – the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, said it is critical for the AU to forge a mutually beneficial relationship with China.
He furthered that the constant changes in the global security landscape, the peace and security architecture and governance approach in Africa, is being challenged and that African countries share common interests with China in security, stability, and common progress.
Aboubacar Serme – Operational Assistant to the Malian Chief of Army Staff, is of the view that, the security cooperation with China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and that it is the case that China treats every country equally, hence African countries can better understand China’s international and bilateral cooperation.
The Gambia‘s Minister for Defence – Sering Modou Njie, opined that the GSI proposed by China would help African countries to enhance their security capabilities, and the joint efforts made by African countries.
The Assistant to the Egyptian Minister for Defence – Khalid Megawer, seems to have a soft heart for the GSI also, asserting that security must be bolstered by economy, because they are closely related and highly interdependent.
General Li Shangfu – China’s State Councillor and Minister for Defence, who delivered a keynote speech, said his country never imposes its will upon others, neither does it interfere in the internal affairs of African countries, and that its aid to Africa – including military – is delivered with no political strings attached.
General Shangfu, called on African partners to work with China to uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security mind-set, as all security arrangements are carried out through consultation with the African countries involved.
The world power is seeking to further promote and perpetuate the role of a consequential mediator in African peace process; for in June 2022, China sponsored a Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance and Development Conference, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and subsequently appointed a ‘Special Envoy’ for the Horn of Africa region.
A huge chunk of Chinese peacekeeping forces that are currently deployed are in Africa, in addition to some 44 anti-piracy task force groups deployed to protect trade, since 2008, contribution to UN peacekeeping forces in Africa. The PRC has also backed African regional institutions, extended military cooperation, established a military base in Djibouti, and plays an essential role in Africa’s arms and technology market.
However, in recent years, there has been increased reports of attacks and kidnappings of Chinese workers in countries like Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and South Africa, raising questions about China’s ability to protect its citizens overseas, thus exposing the widening disconnect between China’s prospects and its security apparatus abroad.
The People’s Republic of China is estimated to have over a million of its citizens with about 10,000 setups, about USD 160 billion worth of loans, investments of nearly US$ 300 billion, in Africa: it definitely would seek to protect its citizens and investments.
In Africa, contemporary traditional security issues such as military coups, terrorism and violent extremism (VE), and in some places, civil war have not been completely dealt with (although there are reports of the possibility of China brokering peace in conflict-ravaged Sudan).
The China-Africa cooperation’s security aspect also deals with the education and training of African military and security personnel, and counter-piracy operations, since issues relating to African peace and security are now considered to be a prominent feature of Chinese foreign policy, to promote its governance model and build a shared understanding of security.
Chinese Professional Military Education (PME), and Policing and Law Enforcement cooperation, intend working with Africans to engender, foster, and reinforce a mutual understanding of the concept of security through Chinese initiatives like the GSI, the security aspects of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or the political architecture of defence building, to jointly deal with global security challenges and uphold international justice.
These education and trainings are conducted in China, rather than on the African continent, at various levels like Regional Academies, Command and Staff Colleges, the National Defence Academy, and the National University of Defence Technology.
The 1st edition of the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum was held on 15 July 2018 in Beijing, China, while the 2nd edition was held online on 25 July 2022.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
