2025 Spring Symposium

Africa-China Initiative Working Group: China in Africa’s Digital Transformation

Over the past year, the members of Africa-China Initiative Research Working Group, titled “Demand, Disruption, and Transformation: African Agency in Digital Geopolitics,” have completed their research around Chinese interactions with different aspects of African digital development. As part of our annual Spring Symposium, these scholars presented their research to the public for the first time.  

The public symposium took place on April 25, 2025 in the Mortara Center for International Studies.

Panel: Africa’s Digital Futures: AI, Surveillance, and China

Featured:
Mandira Bagwandeen, Stellenbosch University,
“Huawei: Helping or Hindering African Countries Secure Their Data Sovereignty?”
Bulelani Jili, Harvard University, 
“Between Dependency and Independence: African Agency Amid China’s Expanding Digital Footprint in Africa”
Ibrahima Niang, University of Cheikh Anta Diop, 
“Rewriting the Future of Digital in Senegal, Can the Huawei Model Fit with the Senegalese “New Deal Technology?”
Yabo Wu, Maastricht University,
“Exporting the China Model? Two Chinese Technology Firms in Kenya’s Digital Development”
Anita Plummer, Howard University, Moderator

Keynote Address

Speaker Bio:
Jane Munga, Fellow in the Africa Program, Carnegie Endowment for Peace
Jane Munga’s career has focused on policymaking with an emphasis on the potential of digital technologies for digital development. Prior to joining Carnegie, Jane worked for the Government of Kenya as an advisor and economic expert. In this capacity, she focused on digital economy policies and strategies for digital transformation with particular attention to innovation, the gig economy, and digital inclusion. 

Discussion moderated by Ken Opalo, Georgetown University