China’s Cities in Africa – Dream of Development or Debt Trap in Silk Wrapping?

On maps of Africa, new city names are increasingly popping up – many of them drawn and built by Chinese hands. From Angola to Egypt, from Ethiopia to Kenya, China has become a dominant player in infrastructure development across the continent. One of the most striking examples is the construction of entirely new cities, such as Ciudad de la Paz in Equatorial Guinea and Kilamba Kiaxi in Angola – both partially or entirely financed and built by Chinese companies.

What drives this massive urban construction? Is it a new kind of Marshall Plan wrapped in silk, or a modern version of colonization through debt? This article does not aim to take a stand – but to provide a nuanced picture of what is actually happening.

China’s Entry into Africa – A Historical Context

China’s engagement in Africa accelerated in the 2000s, when its demand for raw materials soared. Africa offered oil, copper, iron ore, and rare earth elements – but also new markets, political alliances, and strategic footholds. In return, China offered what Africa had long lacked: cheap loans, no political interference, and above all – concrete results.

Unlike the Western world, which often requires democratic reforms and transparency, China presented a business model without moral strings attached. For many African governments, this was both attractive and convenient.

Example: Kilamba Kiaxi – The Ghost Town That Became Home

Kilamba Kiaxi, on the outskirts of Angola’s capital Luanda, is one of the most symbolic examples of China’s city-building in Africa. The project was largely funded by a Chinese loan worth billions of dollars and constructed by the China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC).

The city was planned for over half a million residents, featuring thousands of apartments, schools, hospitals, and shopping centers. But when it was completed in 2012, the buildings stood empty. Prices were too high for ordinary Angolans, and critics dubbed it a “ghost town.” The government was forced to subsidize prices – only then did people begin to move in.

Ciudad de la Paz – Equatorial Guinea’s Future Capital

In Equatorial Guinea, the construction of a new capital began – Oyala, later renamed Ciudad de la Paz – in the middle of the rainforest, 200 kilometers inland. The project is highly ambitious and symbolic. The country's leader, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, envisioned it as a way to distance governance from chaotic Malabo (the current capital) and create a new administrative hub.

This city too was designed and built by Chinese firms. It includes not just housing, but universities, government ministries, military bases, and luxury hotels. Critics argue the city is a monument to power – not to the people's needs – but it stands, literally, in the jungle.

What Does Africa Gain from This?

China has helped build:

• Roads and highways

• Railways (e.g., Addis Ababa–Djibouti line)

• Bridges, ports, and airports

• Residential areas and entire neighborhoods

• Hospitals, schools, and stadiums

• Telecom and IT infrastructure

African governments highlight these projects as proof of progress. People get jobs – although many positions are filled by imported Chinese workers. Infrastructure that might have taken decades to build has appeared in just a few years. It’s hard to deny that China “delivers.”

But at what cost?

The Debt Trap – A Dead End?

Many of the loans from China are not traditional aid packages but commercial loans, often backed by natural resources or long-term operating rights. In some cases, strategic assets are handed over to China when countries fail to repay their debts.

A well-known example is the port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka, where China assumed control after default. Similar scenarios have been reported or feared in Africa – such as in Zambia and Djibouti.

Critics warn that Africa could fall into a new form of dependency – not military or political, but economic and logistical.

Chinese Cities – But Not for Africans?

Many of the residential areas built by Chinese firms are far from “affordable housing.” They are often too expensive for local citizens and instead target middle-class buyers or foreign investors. In some cases, they function more as prestige projects than as real solutions to housing shortages.

Moreover, the architecture often reflects Chinese styles and planning logic – lacking adaptation to local culture, climate, or social norms. This can create a feeling of “cities without soul.”

Political and Cultural Influence

China’s presence in Africa is not just economic – it is also political and cultural. The country invests in media, education (e.g., Confucius Institutes), diplomacy, and even military relations. In some nations, Mandarin Chinese is now mandatory in certain schools.

Many Africans welcome Chinese help – it is fast, tangible, and not wrapped in colonial undertones. But there is also suspicion: lack of transparency in contracts, working conditions on construction sites, and corruption allegations against Chinese companies.

“Who Builds for Whom?” – A Question of Ownership

In a world where African urbanization is accelerating – with 60% of the continent’s population projected to live in cities by 2050 – the need for housing and infrastructure is enormous. China offers a solution, but it doesn’t come free. The critical question is not just what is being built, but for whom and under what terms.

Many African voices urge their governments to:

• Negotiate better contracts with China

• Demand knowledge transfer and local job creation

• Train domestic architects, engineers, and planners

• Preserve local culture and ecological sustainability

A Global Chess Game – With Africa as the Board?

China is not alone in Africa. The U.S., EU, Turkey, Russia, and Gulf nations are also active players. But China’s strategy is persistent, practical, and mostly effective. Build first, debate later. While the West often focuses on ideas, China focuses on cement.

In the short term, this may appear to be a win-win – but what happens when interest rates rise, commodity prices fall, or political crises erupt? What if the cities remain underpopulated? What if they become new ghost towns?

The Future – Who Sets the Agenda?

It remains unclear where this road leads. Will Africa use Chinese city-building as a springboard toward its own urban model? Or will the continent remain stuck in infrastructures shaped in Beijing?

The truth likely lies somewhere in between. China’s city-building in Africa is one of the 21st century’s largest global experiments. It is impressive, intimidating, fascinating – and far from over.

Conclusion: One City at a Time – But With Global Consequences

China’s construction of cities in Africa is about far more than steel and concrete. It is about geopolitics, power shifts, cultural influence – and the future of over one billion people. Whether you see it as altruism, pragmatism, or neo-colonialism, it is a phenomenon worth watching closely.

Link: "Ciudad de la Paz"