China’s foreign minister Wang Yi on Wednesday began his annual New Year outreach to Africa, with greater focus on the east, as the world’s second-largest economy moves to expand its influence across the region.
The tour, which includes stops in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Tanzania, highlights Beijing’s efforts to secure strategic trade routes, access critical minerals and expand market opportunities amid rising global trade risks. Wang is also scheduled to visit Lesotho — the only Southern African nation currently on his list.
The timing coincides with deteriorating US–Africa diplomatic relations, following steep trade tariffs and cuts to foreign aid last year.
While some of the harshest tariffs were later revised to a flat 15%, the initial shock weighed heavily on investor confidence and export-dependent economies.
Lesotho was among the worst hit, briefly facing tariffs of up to 50% on US-bound goods.
The shock triggered job losses, reduced export earnings and a government declaration of a two-year state of disaster.
At the time, the African Development Bank warned that Lesotho’s economic growth could fall below 1% in 2025 if external pressures persist.
Horn of Africa and key shipping lanes
Somalia is a notable stop on the tour, marking the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister since the 1980s, according to Reuters.
The visit follows Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a breakaway region that declared independence in 1991, a move that has heightened diplomatic sensitivities in the Horn of Africa nation.
China has reiterated its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and is keen to strengthen its influence around the Gulf of Aden, a vital shipping corridor linking Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The route is critical for Chinese exports heading to European markets.
Copper and competing corridors
Further south, Tanzania is central to China’s push to secure access to Africa’s copper belt. Chinese firms are refurbishing the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) line, which links Dar es Salaam to Zambia’s mining regions.
The project is widely seen as a strategic alternative to the US- and EU-backed Lobito Corridor, which connects Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Atlantic ports through Angola. China’s interest in the region was reinforced in November, when Premier Li Qiang made a landmark visit to Zambia — the first by a Chinese premier in nearly three decades.
Wang’s visit to Lesotho also reflects China’s effort to present itself as a champion of free trade. Last July, Beijing offered zero-tariff treatment to 53 African nations, extending a policy that initially benefited the least developed countries.
US- Africa trade defies expectations
Despite recent trade tensions, Africa’s exports to the US have remained resilient. American imports from Africa rose 24% year on year to $23.4 billion in the first half of 2025, according to data from the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The rebound marks a sharp turnaround from the 5% contraction recorded in H1 2024, easing some strain on the US trade balance.
Exports to Africa also grew, rising to $19.7 billion from $15.2 billion. But because imports outpaced exports, the US still recorded a $3.69 billion goods deficit with the continent — slightly wider than the $3.62 billion deficit a year earlier.
China’s latest move underscores renewed efforts to strengthen trade ties and reinforce strategic partnerships in Africa, as competition for the region’s markets intensifies.
