African nations favour China over US amid shift in continental dynamics
China has gained ground for the first time in influence dynamics on the African continent, while US influence is waning, according to recent polling data from Gallup.
China's commitment to Africa through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative launched in 2013 and other substantial private investments have contributed to its rising influence on the continent.
According to the Gallup report, Africa is driven by various geopolitical factors, such as securing access to vital minerals and disputes over debt relief.
In 2023, China recorded its highest approval rating in decades across Africa, with significant increases notably observed in countries like Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. Meanwhile, the US saw its overall approval rating dip by 3%.
“Of the four global powers (China, the US, Germany, and Russia) asked about, the U.S. was the only one not to see its image improve across Africa in 2023. Meanwhile, China’s approval in the region rose six percentage points, from 52% in 2022 to 58% in 2023, two points ahead of the U.S.,” the report indicated.
The decline in US approval ratings was particularly pronounced in Uganda, where it plummeted by 29%. This drop followed Uganda's exclusion from benefits under Washington’s African Growth and Opportunity Act due to the country's implementation of stringent anti-LGBTQ legislation.
According to the report, the United States' approval ratings have also declined in both the Gambia and Kenya.
