The Rise of China in Africa
In recent years, Beijing has identified the continent of Africa as an area of significant economic and strategic interest, spending billions of dollars on energy and infrastructure projects there. But concerns about China’s role have been voiced by a range of actors, from human rights groups to international observers to Africans themselves. Houdek will discuss how the growing influence of China will affect economic development, human rights, and democracy in Africa.
Robert Houdek was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer from 1962 to 1996. Among many assignments, he served as the first U.S. Ambassador to Eritrea; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; Chief of Mission in the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ambassador to Uganda; and Deputy Chief of Mission in the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. He retired from the National Intelligence Council in 2007 and is now a consultant on African affairs.