CHINESE FINANCING OF AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

This article considers the significance of Chinese funding in Africa, particularly regarding infrastructure projects as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. It explores reasons for Chinese investment in Africa, sources of funding, and the major players driving said investment. The author attempts to examine the insinuation in some quarters that China is engaging in predatory lending and the potential impact of these loans on the countries in which the infrastructural projects are carried out. The paper also endeavors to examine what effects, if any, the COVID-19 pandemic will have on Chinese funding in Africa.