Assessing U.S.-China Technology Competition in Africa

Speaker: Sam Howell (Center for a New American Security (CNAS))

Date: 4 April 2023

Speaker Session Summary

SMA hosted a speaker session with Ms. Sam Howell (Technology and National Security Program, Center for a New American Security) as part of its SMA Anticipating the Future Operational Environment (AFOE) Speaker Series.

China is using technology exports to increase its political influence with governments in Africa. Much of this technology is designed for digital surveillance, making it popular among authoritarian leaders on the continent. By increasing its geopolitical influence, China hopes to expand its access to Africa’s natural resources, growing export markets, and strengthen regional security. It also hopes to gain more international support and legitimacy for its ‘One China’ narrative. Ms. Howell commented that African countries hope that China will interact with African countries differently than the US has in the past. They hope that China will engage with countries economically, while not preaching about good governance. However, African countries are concerned about economic exploitation by China.

While China is increasing its technology exports to Africa, it already dominates the continent’s information communication technologies (ICT) sector. Huawei and ZTE are two of the largest ICT providers on the continent, providing 5G networks, national fiber-optic communications networks, and e-governance platforms. China prefers to export its ICT to countries with access to shipping routes, such as Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria. Chinese ICT is popular among African countries because its systems are cheap and highly accessible. Ms. Howell stated that the US should be concerned by the potential of increasing Chinese espionage, censorship, and theft of intellectual property throughout Africa. These threats are becoming more prevalent as more countries are beginning to prefer Chinese-built, rather than US, digital infrastructure. Currently, ten African countries prefer Chinese digital infrastructure and only three support a US-built digital infrastructure. The US can counter China’s ICT dominance in Africa by increasing its high-ranking diplomatic engagement throughout the region and its own new ICT initiatives. The main obstacles preventing the US from growing its technology influence in Africa is funding and a doubt among African nations that the US has long-term commitment to engagement. 

Speaker Session Recording

Briefing Materials

Biography:

Sam Howell is a Research Assistant with the Technology and National Security program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Her research focuses on quantum information science, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence. Prior to CNAS, Sam worked as an intelligence analyst at a risk consulting firm in Washington, DC. She also formerly worked as a counterterrorism researcher at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) and at the Elliott School of International Affairs. She began her career as a staff assistant on Capitol Hill. Sam holds an M.A. in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University and a B.A. in Medical Humanities and Bioethics from Baylor University, where she was a student-athlete. Her analysis and commentary have appeared in outlets including Lawfare, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, and Voice of America.

Recommended reading: https://thediplomat.com/2022/12/countering-china-in-africa-by-reaffirming-us-tech-leadership/

This speaker session supported SMA’s Anticipating the Future Operational Environment (AFOE) project. For additional speaker sessions and project publications, please visit the AFOE project page.