The European Union Can Help Africa Counter Chinese Authoritarianism

“Lasting support for African democracies depends on the EU establishing a true partnership with the African Union, including matching the growing academic and civil society engagement of the Chinese Communist Party.

“On February 17and 18, 2022, the sixth European Union—African Union summit will take place in Brussels after two years of Covid-19 related delays. The meeting between heads of state from the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU) has been branded as an opportunity to ‘jointly define’ their relationship, including a focus on investment and trade, a “green transition,” and most importantly, democracy and governance reforms.

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“Increasingly, democratic powers recognize the challenges PRC engagement poses to the continued democratic trajectory of both nascent and developed democracies. Despite this recognition, many have criticized the EU’s support for African democratic development as a ‘series of failed beginnings.’ The EU should use its upcoming summit with African countries to develop a realistic strategy to follow through on its promises of equal engagement.

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“The CCP is also deepening its relationship with ruling parties across the continent. From Nigeria to Kenya, it has provided training on party management and longevity to governing African parties. In Kenya, the CCP has trained Jubilee cadres in all forty-seven counties. This effort has yielded strong public praise from democratic political parties for an authoritarian party rooted in illiberal governance methods.

“The EU must go beyond grand declarations of intent and simple financial support to enforce tangible changes to its long-term diplomatic partnership with the AU…

“The upcoming summit is an excellent platform to declare these intentions. Still, lasting support for African democracies depends on the EU establishing a true partnership with the AU, including matching the growing academic and civil society engagement of the CCP.”