China Is More Popular Than the U.S. in Africa. Here’s Why

China's popularity across Africa remains strong, with new Afrobarometer polling showing Beijing again outperforming the U.S. and Europe in public perception. But those favorable views are far from straightforward, shaped by perceptions of China's development success, frustration with Western powers, and Africans' own experiences with Chinese engagement.

Ebenezer Obadare, the Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Eric & Cobus to unpack what the polling reveals about China's enduring appeal and shifting African views of the U.S. and Europe.

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode:

🇨🇳 Why China remains popular across Africa
📊 What Afrobarometer's latest polling reveals
🇺🇸 Changing African views of the U.S. and Europe
🏗️ The appeal of China's development model
🤝 How Chinese engagement shapes perceptions
🌍 Why U.S.-China rivalry isn't zero-sum in Africa

Show Notes:

• Afrobarometer: African insights 2026: Beyond borders: Citizen perspectives on a shifting global order
• The Africa Report: Poll: US lags behind China in African hearts and minds by Julian Pecquet
• Foreign Affairs: How China Is Winning Friends and Influencing People by Eric Olander and Lizzi Lee

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