A sub-Saharan seduction: Africa is attracting ever more interest from powers elsewhere

The article examines Africa’s growing strategic importance to outside powers and the intensifying competition for political, economic, and diplomatic influence across the continent. It describes how countries including China, Russia, Turkey, India, the United States, and European states have expanded their presence through embassies, trade, investment, infrastructure projects, military cooperation, and development partnerships. A key theme is that African governments have more potential partners than in previous decades, giving them greater room to diversify relationships and negotiate among competing powers rather than relying on a single external bloc. The article also highlights the rapid expansion of diplomatic representation in Africa as evidence of the continent’s rising geopolitical importance.

Link: https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/03/07/africa-is-attracting-ever-more-interest-from-powers-elsewhere