China's role in the future of South Sudan

You wanted South Sudanese voices? We have South Sudanese voi - we have A South Sudanese voice on hand to share her fascinating insights on South Sudan's peace process, China/South Sudan relations, and the future of the young country. Hosts Winslow Robertson and Dr. Nkemjika Kalu had a live discussion with Ms. Natalina Malwal, a representative of the South Sudanese community in the U.S.

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Mighty Mike

The Africa Daily

Addendum - 130 Years of China/South Sudan history

While Dr. Daniel Large gave an excellent overview of Chinese/South Sudanese history, there was not as much of a discussion on South Sudan's relations with neighboring countries (China is not a neighbor, after all). Hosts Winslow Robertson and Dr. Nkemjika Kalu asked Ms. Lesley Anne Warner, an Africa security specialist, to talk a little more about the particulars of South Sudanese politics and how they relate to its foreign policy, to which she graciously agreed. Despite their best efforts, there were still technical difficulties in the recording, however: a slight scratching sound every time Winslow speaks. But you do not listen to this podcast for what Winslow has to say, correct?

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Mighty Mike

The Africa Daily

130 Years of China/South Sudan history

Hosts Winslow Robertson and Dr. Nkemjika Kalu continue their discussion of China/South Sudan relations, this time examining the history between both countries. And who better to ask than Dr. Daniel Large, Assistant Professor at Central European University and the Director of the Rift Valley Institute of the Sudan Open Archive. He recently completed his PhD at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. His thesis, "Fantastic Invasions: intervention and the politics of the international in Sudan," looks at the international community's relations with Sudan and how it reacted to Chinese engagement with the country. He has also published a number of books and articles, notably a co-edited volume with Chris Alden and Ricardo Soares de Oliveira: "China Returns to Africa: A Continent and a Rising Power Embrace," published by Hurst Publishers and Columbia University Press. He also wears extremely stylish glasses, but we fear you will not be able to see them!

PS There are a few technical glitches with the recording, for which we apologize! Also, our Chinese and South Sudanese guests could not participate in this podcast :(

Recommendations

• Winslow
• Abe's Africa visit purely political, says Chinese foreign minister by WantChinaTimes
• The Flashman Papers by George MacDonald Fraser
•  Dr. Kalu
• 50 Things You Didn't Know About Africa by The World Bank
• Asian anti-Black racism at an embassy in Nigeria by Cosmic Yoruba
• Nowhere To Go For South Sudanese In Central African Republic by Wochit
• #SouthSudan
• Daniel Large
• Field Courses 2014: Applications open by Rift Valley Institute
• The New Kings of Crude: China, India, and the Global Struggle for Oil in Sudan and South Sudan by Luke Patey
• The Sudd Institute

Sources

Between the CPA and Southern Independence: China's Post-Conflict Engagement in Sudan by Daniel Large

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Mighty Mike

The Africa Daily

Everything you wanted to know about China and South Sudan in 40 minutes

Hosts Winslow Robertson and Dr. Nkemjika Kalu start of 2014 by spending a month discussing Chinese relations with South Sudan and some of the current problems facing the world's youngest country. Joining them is Mr. Thomas Wheeler, an expert on Chinese security issues in Africa, especially related to involvement in South Sudan. His articles have been published in Global Review, The Diplomat, and more. The thoroughness with which he answers Winslow's questions is worth a listen alone.

Recommendations

• Winslow
• How Hollywood cloaked South Sudan in celebrity and fell for the 'big lie' by Daniel Howden
•  Dr. Kalu 
• Columbite Tantalite: a short film by Chiwetel Ejiofor – video by Chiwetel Ejiofor
• Sign the petition ..... South Sudan leaders: Give Peace a Chance by Thomas Muortat
• Thomas Wheeler
• China’s New Courtship in South Sudan by International Crisis Group
• Between the CPA and Southern Independence: China's Post-Conflict Engagement in Sudan by Daniel Large
• Oil, security and community engagement by Saferworld

Sources

China and South Sudan by Laura Barber, Steven Kuo, Thomas Wheeler, and Dr. Xiao Yuhua

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Mighty Mike

The Africa Daily

With Friends Like These...

There was an interesting connection I noticed when reading over my tweeter feed today.

Tarila Marclint Ebiede, a PhD candidate in the political science department at KU Lueven, linked to this Reuters article about South Sudan wanting international support for a new airline and airport. There was a passage that caught my eye:

The new country will also need to bring in experts to help set up the airline, he said. He did not say how long it might take to get the airline running or name any of the potential investors.
The biggest carriers in the region include companies like Kenya Airways (KQNA.NR) and Ethiopian Airlines. South Sudan said last week China would provide a $158 million loan to help finish a new airport in Juba.
The work will be done by Chinese companies and supervised by South Sudan's transport ministry, Malek said.
"Once we're satisfied, we tell the minister of finance ... to tell the Chinese Axim Bank that this part of work has been done, you pay that company," he said.

That sounds like a really great deal for South Sudan, China, and the Chinese Exim Bank. If an American NGO wants to gain traction with African governments, perhaps the Enough Project should have chipped in some money. China did a masterful job of improving the, at times quite acrimonious, relationships with the people of Sudan and South Sudan.

I then came across a set of juicy quotes from the recent video interview with Malawian president Joyce Banda:

"China doesn't keep us waiting for two years. China will decide today and will go ahead. The next day you sign, and work starts … so, the choice for Africa is: do I want to have a road next year, or do I want to stay for two years discussing about human rights and governance before we can even talk about the road?"

These were broadcast by Tolu Ogunlesi, a first-rate journalist and a prolific tweeter. The video interview was made by Lucy Lamble, Nick Francis and Marc Francis, the latter two famous in Sino-Africa circles for their documentary "When China Met Africa." President Banda has a good relationship with the U.S., so for her to make such a blunt assessment of the difficulties in dealing with the U.S. and Europe when it comes to infrastructure projects is significant. 

The U.S. knows all too well that China offers very attractive aid and trade packages, it just stings when another leader acknowledges it. In the span of a week, China is agreeing to finance the completion of an airport in a country which does not hold the highest regard for the Chinese, and the president of a country friendly to the U.S. is pointing out just how the Americans are failing said country. I still believe the U.S. and China operate quite similarly in the African continent, but my view is not what matters. What President Banda thinks is what matters.