Is China Really in the Driver's Seat for BRI Projects in Africa?

The article “Is China Really in the Driver’s Seat for BRI Projects in Africa?” argues that Chinese involvement in Africa’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is often portrayed too simplistically as a top-down, Beijing-led geopolitical strategy. In reality, the definition of what counts as a BRI project is very broad and flexible, which allows many local initiatives with African ownership to be labelled as BRI to secure Chinese financing and support. Since Africa was not a core target when the BRI was launched in 2013, the relationship grew after a 2015 cooperation agreement between China and the African Union. The article reviews research showing that local African actors — whether states, civil society, or private interests — interpret, adapt, negotiate, and sometimes resist BRI projects. This means African agency is central to shaping outcomes, rather than China unilaterally setting terms. The piece highlights case studies (Tanzania’s Bagamoyo port, Ethiopia’s Adama wind farms, Kenya’s Lamu port/SGR) and shows how local priorities and politics often mediate China’s influence on the ground.