China shifts from Africa’s top megaproject lender to a debt collector

Since the mid‑2000s, China has established itself as Africa’s principal bilateral financier for large infrastructure projects, including railways, bridges, dams and ports. But as the loans involved reach maturity, Beijing has transitioned from a net provider of funds to a net collector.Drawing on data from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Centre and its own calculations, Africa" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="45099" data-entity-type="organization">Oxford Economics Africa said in a new analysis that Chinese loan commitments dropped from a peak of US$28.8 billion in 2016 to US$2.1 billion in 2024, representing the lowest level in almost two decades.And while the tap has tightened, the bills are coming due. The advisory firm noted, referencing One Campaign data, that after advancing US$30.4 billion to African governments between 2010 and 2014, Beijing had collected US$22.1 billion in net repayments over the past five years.