Chinese development finance in Africa

Uganda People's Defence Forces, UPDF, Major General Julius Gutti (R) receives a plaque from China's Defence minister, General Liang Guanglie at Kimaka Military Academy in Jinja eastern Uganda, on 30 November 2011. China pledged more than $2.3 million in military assistance to Uganda during a high-profile visit to Kampala by Beijing's defence minister, a spokesman for the Ugandan army said. (Photo: AAP)

Author: Deborah Brautigam, American University

Chinese development finance in Africa is unusual in that much of the financial flows from China do not constitute official development aid (ODA). 

Instead, much of it comes in the form of export credits and strategic lines of credit to Chinese-related companies, among other mechanisms. Read more…