China in Africa: The Human Rights Impact

Abstract

This report examines the practical impact of Chinese investment on human rights in Africa, in order to assess how the positive effects of China in Africa can be maximised and how the negative effects – which have the potential to be particularly damaging in states that may already be experiencing economic, political, and social upheaval – can be checked. In particular, this report addresses the recent debate over boycotting the 2008 Beijing Olympics in light of China’s complicity in the genocide in Darfur via its diplomatic, economic, and military support of the Government of Sudan (GoS), and thus the GoSbacked Janjaweed militia. This debate led Waging Peace to consider China’s increasing investment and trade with African states as a whole and its implications for the well-being of African citizens. While China’s involvement in Sudan is a clear example of the grave consequences of Chinese investment, there are other cases where the effects of China in Africa are not so obviously ‘good’ or ‘bad’. China’s numerous infrastructure projects are certainly welcome on a continent where improved roads and railways could have a significant positive effect on the local economy. On the other hand, many of the dams being constructed in Africa have had detrimental effects, including the forced displacement of tens of thousands of people. Waging Peace believes that the best means of maximising China’s positive influence is for African leaders to use investment and trade agreements with China to guarantee a fair deal for their own people. However, in cases where African governments are unwilling to institute safeguards to ensure that local populations benefit from the investment, others must exploit China's desire to be seen as a respected member of the international community as leverage, putting the onus on China to make fair deals that promote human rights in African states.