Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has announced $135mn in military aid for Africa, coupled with expanded security cooperation, during his four-nation tour of the continent.

Wang’s visit concluded in Nigeria, where he reiterated Beijing’s commitment to addressing Africa’s security challenges through joint initiatives. 

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, he outlined China’s plans to bolster its global security initiative across the continent. The aid package includes funding and training for 6,000 troops and 1,000 law enforcement personnel. Additional support was pledged for Africa’s rapid response and standby forces, vital for counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations.

These measures align with commitments made at the China-Africa summit in September 2024, where Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $51bn in aid to the continent over three years.

“China will firmly support Africans in addressing African issues in the African way, African people are the real masters of this continent,” Wang said after meeting Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, AFP reported. “China supports Nigeria in rallying countries in the region to achieve strength through unity, to build synergy through reconciliation, and to promote security through cooperation.”

Wang’s decision to conclude his visit in Nigeria highlights the strategic importance of Abuja in Sino-African relations. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached $22.6bn in 2023, with Nigeria supplying oil and gas to China, while it imports Chinese-manufactured goods. Tinubu used the latest meeting with Wang to advocate for increased Chinese investment in Africa’s infrastructure and urged Beijing to back Nigeria’s bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat.

Beijing’s growing engagement reflects its ambition to solidify influence amid global geopolitical competition, particularly from the US, Russia and the EU. The strategy, which incorporates infrastructure investments and military aid, is designed to maintain China’s position as Africa’s leading trade partner. China employs hundreds of thousands of workers and engineers on the continent, in return for securing access to significant mineral resources such as copper, gold, and lithium. Chinese public bank loans have funded large-scale infrastructure projects, which has in turn fuelled fears about China’s role in shaping the continent’s future due to a significant debt burden.