China has emerged as a major investor in Africa in recent years, particularly in extraction industries like mining and oil to ensure future supplies of raw materials. China invests heavily in mines, oil wells, and infrastructure projects across Africa. However, there are concerns about the environmental and social impacts of these projects. China's demand for ivory and rhino horn also fuels illegal poaching in Africa that threatens wildlife populations. While economic benefits are gained, some experts argue China is exploiting Africa's natural resources similar to historical colonial practices.

1. Africa in China’s
Foreign Policy
Strategy and Foreign Direct Investment

2. Africa and the FDI
• Africa has long received the smallest amount of
inward investment. BUT, in recent years, Chinese
enterprises have emerged as major investors in
Africa and Latin America (like the Nicaragua
canal), particularly in extraction industries where
they seem to be trying to ensure future supplies
of valuable raw materials.

3. China is the largest trading
partner for the majority of African
countries: investing in mines, oil
wells and infrastructure.

4. The negative side.
The damage not only on the local population, but,
above all, the environment. According to Goodall,
who works in Africa since the mid of the last
century, the Chinese race for African natural
resources seriously affects the natural habitats of
wild life. The newspaper 'International Business
Times estimated that China allocated a total of $
150 billion in the past five years, between direct
investment, loans and development cooperation to
African countries.

5. The Major recipients of Chinese investment are
Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Sudan's
South, Mauritania, Angola, Zimbabwe, Equatorial
Guinea, Cameroon, Zambia and South Africa.

6. Examples
• Analysts estimate that only in Nigeria China has more than 40 major development
cooperation projects underway. To get an idea, one of these projects already
launched in 2006 long-term cost estimated 5.380 million dollars and involves the
construction of infrastructure "in Exchange for the preferential right" on oil auctions.
Only in 2013, Beijing led 9,200 million dollars to the Nigerian energy sector.
• The 2006 investment in Mauritania from a total of 4.040 million, which meant "the
exploration of oil, sewage systems, a mine of iron and highways".
• In 2013, Zambia saw $ 4 billion from China, of which 1.6 million were for mining.
• Sierra Leona China signed a series of bilateral agreements for the development of
the infrastructure of the country. The agreements stipulate the construction in Sierra
Leone of several power plants, a sea port and a railway line of 250 km. Also
provides for the development of a mine, as well as the construction of an airport in
Freetown, the capital of the country. Chinas has invested 50 billion dollars in the
country’s infrastructure.

7. Economically it's a mutual benefit for all parties:
Beijing looks satisfied your insatiable demand,
while African countries create jobs and GDP
increases.

8. The mainly concern
With all this, the biggest concern is not the
legitimate business, but the fact that China is a
huge market for elephant tusks and rhinoceros
horns, what drives illegal hunting of these animals
and has reduced its population to alarming levels.
According to the number of the International Union
for the conservation of nature, only in 2012 more
than 15,000 elephants killed for their tusks in 27
States of the African continent and the main target
of this smuggling of ivory has been China.

9. Conclusion
Some experts have said and think the same about
the actual situation with China and Africa:
"In Africa, China is doing just what settlers did.
They want the raw materials for its economic
growth, also that the settlers who went to Africa and
is seized of its natural resources, impoverishing
local people (...). China is larger and the technology
improved... It's a disaster,"