Claim of Sino-imperialism in Africa is a lie

Editor's note: Ngovi Kitau is the former Kenyan ambassador to the Republic of Korea. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

On November 20, 2019, The National Interest (TNI), the American bimonthly international affairs magazine published a nonsensical and scandalous article: "China is not in Africa for charity, but to control its resources." A detailed analysis reveals that this is a distraction to bulwark the real culprits.

The narrative can be summarized into two substantive accusations: One, "In much of Africa today, China is the imperialist power." Secondly, "the greatest threat Africa faces today is Sino-imperialism. It is now in danger of being captured by China's sinister Sino-imperialism that will keep Africa from entering its renaissance."

These frivolous depositions are not only a failed attempt to demonize the Chinese, but also an outright insult to intelligent and knowledgeable Africans. Most Africans, who are not in cahoots with imperialists understand the modus operandi of imperialism: Divide and conquer, divide and rule, divide and ruin. Where in Africa are the Chinese perpetrating this evil?

Let us now deal with the first accusation and see who are the real imperialists in Africa. To start with, the Chinese have never had interest in colonizing Africa. During the Ming Dynasty, Admiral Zheng Ho visited the East African coast in the early 15th century, and his voyage did not lead to Chinese expansion. Vasco da Gama came a few decades later and Africa is yet to recover from the plunder by the imperialists.

The real imperialists on African soil today is the UK and the U.S. These two countries, forcefully removed the African Chagossians people from their ancestral land, to create room for construction of a joint military base, between 1968 and 1973, and have defied UN demand and the International Court ruling that they vacate the Chagos Archipelago, which they acquired illegally, and belongs to Mauritius.

On June 23, 2017, UNGA voted 94 for, and 15 against, and approved for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to clarify the legal status of the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean. In February 2019, the ICJ in the Hague ruled that the UK should transfer the islands to Mauritius as they were not legally separated from the latter in 1965.

In May this year, the UNGA voted by an overwhelming majority of 116 to six countries in favor of a motion condemning Britain's occupation of the Chagos Archipelago, which belongs to Mauritius, and demanding that the Islands be reunified with Mauritius, by November 22, 2019. UK has defied the UN.

The failure by the UK to give effect to the ICJ ruling and the UNGA is deeply regrettable, and should be condemned by all. I see no reason why the UN and AU should not impose sanctions against the UK.