Chinese Multilateralism: The Panacea for Africa.

Byline: Usama Ibrahim

Africa has suffered from colonization to autocracy and western hegemony for centuries. For decades, the region has served as a tool for fulfilling the vested interests of various powers in the global north. Africa has remained under exploitation by foreign colonial powers. It has earned nothing in return, even while being one of the richest continents on earth in terms of natural wealth. In an era where modernization and technologi cal advancement are leading the globe to glory, African countries struggle for economic development. However, after suffering for decades and receiving nothing in results, Africa finds, that Chinese multilateralism through BRI is a ray of hope for the region's infra structural development and economic growth. The Belt and Road Initiative, launched by the Chinese government in 2013, is worth trillions of dollars, connecting over a hundred countries through rails, roads, and waterways. The BRI projects a win-win situation for partner countries. Thus various African nations consider the project a silver lining after being on the line for decades. Unlike other Western powers, the Chinese investments in Africa are neither to extract their natural resources nor bind African nations through harsh rules and policies.

The People's Republic of China, under her flagship Belt and Road Initiative, had invested billions of dollars in regional connectivity among African nations. Multilateralism and how it is the panacea for the African region could easily be understood by the following attributes. Built By Consent And Partnership Policy Since the beginning, the Chinese govern ment has been supporting partnerships with equity. All projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) were formal ized after bilateral agreements. Follow ing this, 52 out of 54 nations have signed various Memorandum of Understanding with China in Africa. Furthermore, the African Union has also signed an MOU with China for BRI cooperation, paving the way for aggrandized collaboration between China and African nations. Supporting the Chinese connectivity project, the incumbent President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, said, "The old railways was built by force and violence...the new railway is built by consent and partnership." China has remained against colonization and has been helping the countries through economic engagement. There is a strict foreign policy of noninterference.

The government of China wants connec tivity, trade, and...