China’s expanding port presence in Africa sparks concerns over security and sovereignty

Chinese state-owned firms are playing a dominant role in port development across Africa, with a presence in 78 ports across 32 countries as builders, financiers, or operators, sparking concerns about China’s long-term geo-strategic aims.
According to a new report by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, these Chinese firms are not only builders and financiers but also operate and manage many of Africa’s maritime hubs, from West Africa to East Africa, with a notable concentration in West African nations like Nigeria. While this port development aims to enhance trade connectivity and reduce inefficiencies, the report entitled ‘Mapping China’s Strategic Port Development in Africa’ highlights the growing concerns about these African nations’ security and sovereignty.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been central to its strategy of expanding influence on the continent, with port investments facilitating access to global markets and providing logistical support for landlocked countries. However, the strategic importance of these ports has led to fears that China could repurpose some of them for military use, as seen with its Djibouti base at the Doraleh Port. Speculation is growing that China may replicate this model at other key locations like Lekki, Nigeria, and Mombasa, Kenya, where Chinese firms have significant stakes. Notably, the seven ports that are most likely to be employed for future Chinese military use span both Atlantic and West Indian Ocean locations despite the preponderance of Chinese port development activity in West Africa.
As China strengthens its commercial and potential military foothold in Africa, concerns are rising about the continent’s growing dependence on Chinese infrastructure and the implications of foreign military bases. This situation is generating debate within African governments and civil society, urging them to balance economic benefits with the risks of losing control over strategic national assets. The debate over Chinese port developments highlights the broader geopolitical implications for Africa’s sovereignty and nonalignment.