'Debt trap' claims called political ploy

Experts in Africa have rebutted a US narrative that countries on the continent are burdened by debts imposed by China, calling it a reaction to Washington realizing that it is losing its influence in Africa and elsewhere.

Xn Iraki, an associate professor in the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, said the United States is using claims of a "debt trap" to push back against Beijing's growing presence in Africa.

"Any debt is agreed by the two countries or parties; hence, China can't be accused of being responsible for debt. African countries have played their part; it's two way."

Macharia Munene, professor of history and international relations at the United States International University, Nairobi, shared a similar sentiment, calling the debt trap narrative a political weapon that is being used to discredit China in the eyes of other countries.

Debt is a global problem, he said, adding, "The US itself owes China trillion of dollars in debt, more than all the other countries combined."

A study last year by Debt Justice, a charity in the United Kingdom, found that African countries owe three times more debt to Western banks, asset managers and oil traders than to China. It found that only 12 percent of African governments' external debt was owed to Chinese lenders compared with 35 percent to Western private lenders.

Despite evidence that China is not responsible for Africa's debt problems, Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, repeated the narrative last month during a 10-day visit to Africa.

While in Zambia, she called on Beijing to address the country's heavy debt burden, a move some experts said was beyond her stated objective and probably intended to discredit China's financial support for Africa.

Washington should simply accept the fact it is no longer the dominant power, Munene said.

"The US is a declining power but in denial, thus crutching geopolitical straws."

Iraki and Munene both affirmed that Chinese loans have greatly helped Africa to address its infrastructure deficit.

Win-win situation

"The infrastructure will catalyze Africa's economic growth," Iraki said. "It's now easier to invest, trade and even move within countries. China, too, wins through interest payments."

The US aid or loans to Africa had softly targeted democracy and humans rights, among other issues, which were not as visible to ordinary citizens as roads and ports, he said.

"This is why Chinese aid or loans, which are visible, seem more impactful and have rattled the US."

Munene said that through infrastructure development in Africa, China has challenged the presumption that some things just cannot be done.

"In Zambia, for instance, Chinese opened mines that had been closed down by Western powers, and as they made money, the economy picked up."