• General Townsend, America's top brass in Africa, has warned China is seeking a new western naval base 
• The base, similar to one in Djibouti, would allow Beijing to project its military might into the Atlantic, he said
• Any new base would be just the latest chapter in a decades-long effort by China to gain influence in Africa 
• Country has lent billions to African states while building roads, railways, ports, power stations, internet networks, government buildings in an effort to bring the continent under its sway   

On the west side of Djibouti City sits a sprawling military compound. Within its razorwire-topped walls are helipads, a dock large enough to fit aircraft carriers, and 2,000 troops alongside armoured vehicles and gunboats.

Opened in 2017, this is China's first overseas military base - but could soon be one of many located across Africa if those sounding the alarm in Washington are correct.

The Department of Defense warned last year that Beijing has 'likely' sought bases in Angola, the Seychelles, Kenya, and Tanzania, and just this week General Stephen Townsend - America's top brass in Africa - warned a new naval base similar to the one in Djibouti could soon appear on Africa's west coast. 

Such a base, which could be located anywhere from Mauritania to Namibia, would allow China to project its growing military might not just across the Pacific Ocean but the Atlantic too, General Townsend said.

But while the thought of Chinese military bases popping up across Africa may be new to some, in fact it is only the latest chapter in a decades-long effort to bring the continent under Beijing's sway that has gone largely unnoticed.

'The Chinese are outmaneuvering the U.S. in select countries in Africa,' Gen. Townsend said as he issued his warning. 'Port projects, economic endeavors, infrastructure and their agreements and contracts will lead to greater access in the future. They are hedging their bets and making big bets on Africa.'  

China has lent billions of dollars to African nations (shaded red showing which countries have accepted cash, with darker colours indicating higher levels of debt) while building ports, power stations, railways and roads. Beijing has also built a military base in Djibouti (right), but is planning more - with 'likely sites' in Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Seychelles (blue pentagons). But is is the possibility of a new naval base on the west coast (shaded blue) that has caused fresh alarm in the US

And he's right. It seems that, almost wherever you look on the continent, China's influence is being felt.

Railways? China is building them, including new lines between Mombasa and Nairobi in Kenya, Abuja and Kaduna in Nigeria, Lobito and Luau in Angola, and between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Ports? China again, constructing or expanding no less than 41 harbours in sub-Saharan Africa up to 2019, according to a CSIS report, meaning Beijing now has a commercial interest in around one in five of the total.

Africa's power grid is also being transformed off the back of Chinese investment. Environmentalists kicked up a stink when it emerged late last year that China has financed seven new coal-fired plants in Africa with plans for 13 more - but the country is also investing in hydroelectric, and has interests in some of the continent's largest dams.

For example, the huge Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which spans the Blue Nile and has sparked tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt, is a project in which China is heavily involved. 

To run those projects, thousands of Chinese companies and tens of thousands of Chinese workers have set up on the continent and show no sign of going anywhere.

 

US General Stephen Townsend, who heads US Africa Command, says China has designs on naval ports on the western coast of Africa, which would give the nation easy access to the Atlantic Ocean

Meanwhile, China has lent at least $153billion to African governments to finance the development - according to the China-Africa Research Initiative - though the real total is thought to be far higher once other types of financing such as grants and direct investment are included.

The projects don't stop there. According to The Heritage Foundation, China has built no fewer than 186 government buildings in 40 out of 54 African countries, developed 70 per cent of the continent's 4G networks, and even built sensitive intra-governmental communications networks for 14 nations. 

Even the African Union headquarters, located in Ethiopia, was full financed and build by China. 

And Beijing's interest shows no sign of slowing. In 2018, President Xi Jinping announced the creation of a $60billion pot of Chinese money specially ear-marked for development projects in Africa.

In short: If Africa needs it, then China is supplying it. And in spades.

While economic investment is hardly a threat to America on its own, it does buy Beijing influence - meaning that when Xi wants to locate a new military base on the continent, he is likely to find a host of national leaders who are more than happy to welcome him.

And it is that thought which is keeping Townsend and others at the Pentagon awake at night.  

'They´re looking for a place where they can rearm and repair warships. That becomes militarily useful in conflict,' Townsend said in an interview with the Associated Press this week. 

'They´re a long way toward establishing that in Djibouti. Now they´re casting their gaze to the Atlantic coast and wanting to get such a base there.'

Townsend's warnings come as the Pentagon shifts its focus from the counterterrorism wars of the last two decades to the Indo-Pacific region and threats from great power adversaries like China and Russia. By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE 

 

MOGADISHU, Somalia ​​​​

Somalia’s prime minister has welcomed an agreement to remove opposition and security forces from the capital Mogadishu after recent clashes between government forces and soldiers loyal to opposition groups.

Under the agreement reached late Wednesday by a committee including opposition figures, lawmakers, and Hassan Hundubey Jim'ale, the internal security minister, Somali national police will take charge of security in the capital, and the national army should stay out of politics.

“It is another pleasure for the people of Somalia that we have resolved the demilitarization of Mogadishu. We need the support of the people and politicians. The SNA (Somali National Army) are defenders of the nation and I encourage them to return to their bases," Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble said of the agreement.

Commending efforts to demilitarize Mogadishu and reach an amicable end to the conflict, he called the agreement a good step towards peace and stability.

The main goal is bringing the Horn of Africa country together to hold free and fair elections, he said.

"We must all work towards achieving this goal," he stressed. AA

Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed addresses the lower house of Parliament in Mogadishu, Somalia May 1, 2021. Photo REUTERS/Feisal Omar

Somalia said on Thursday it was restoring diplomatic relations with neighbouring Kenya almost six months after severing ties, accusing Nairobi of meddling in politics.

Relations between the countries have also been tense over the ownership of potential oil and gas deposits, some of which lie off the coast of Jubbaland, one of Somalia's five semi-autonomous states.

"Now diplomatic relations are restored," deputy information minister Abdirahman Yusuf told a news conference in Mogadishu, saying the Gulf Arab state of Qatar had helped in the process.

Kenya's foreign ministry said that it took note of the Somali government's announcement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs "looks forward to further normalization of relations by the Somali authorities including with regard to trade, communication, transportation, people-to-people relations and cultural exchanges," it said in a statement. It also acknowledged the support of Qatar in particular in its efforts to normalize relations.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told Reuters that Doha had agreed with the presidents of both countries that they would work on strengthening bilateral relations and bringing them "back on track".

The minister said his special envoy for counterterrorism and mediation of conflict resolution, Mutlaq Al-Qahtani, had visited both countries.

"We believe that normalizing the relationship between the two neighbours is very important for political stability, especially in Somalia which is currently going through political turmoil ... and we look forward to the elections there," he said.

Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has directed the prime minister to prepare a parliamentary election. A delay led to a political crisis that raised fears al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents could exploit a security vacuum if state forces turn on each other.

State House in Nairobi tweeted that President Uhuru Kenyatta "received a special message" from Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani that was delivered by the foreign minister's special envoy.

In November, Somalia expelled Kenya's ambassador and recalled its own from Nairobi after accusing Kenya of interfering in the electoral process in Jubbaland.

In February 2019, Kenya recalled its ambassador after Mogadishu decided to auction oil and gas exploration blocks at the centre of their maritime rights dispute. The two countries had revived ties in November the same year.

The two are at present before the World Court to adjudicate the maritime boundary dispute. - Reuters

In another blow to Kenyan football, Premier League club Zoo FC have been sanctioned for suspected match fixing, and relegated the club from the domestic Premier League.

A FIFA match-fixing report found the club to be guilty of match manipulation and as a consequence Zoo FC, who are based out of Kericho, will compete in the third division next season.

FIFA referred to “a series of matches in the Kenyan Premier League deemed to have been manipulated between 2018 and 2020 by individuals belonging to the clubs” to come to its decision.

“We are in receipt of correspondence from FIFA with regard to FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruling against your club on grounds of Manipulation of football matches and competition.

In view of the aforementioned decision, FKF has expulsed your club from the 2020/21 FKF Premier League season and relegated Zoo FC to the National Super League (NSL) for the season 2020/21,” read  a statement from Football Kenya Federation  (FKF).

On social media, Zoo FC communicated that the club will exhaust “all legal avenues” to reverse the FIFA decision. The Kenyan club can appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) offering a last resort.

The club wrote: “We assure you that we are prepared to exhaust all legal avenues to ensure this unfair decision is reversed including lodging any further or other appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.” Inside World Football