China, African Union Break Ground on New HQ For the Africa Centers for Disease Control

December 15, 2020

Senior African Union officials together with Chinese diplomats led a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday at the site of the new Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Just as with the African Union’s own headquarters, the new CDC building will be largely financed by the Chinese government. Chinese contractors will build the facility.

Officials say they expect construction of the 90,000 square meter project to take about two years to complete.

China’s Soft Power Dividend From Africa CDC HQ Initiative is Already Evident

“A historical moment for the African Union Ground breaking & unveiling Ceremony of d China Aided Project of d Africa CDC Headquarters Building (Phase 1). A building that will upscale & build our skills & competency for disease Control & Prevention” — Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner of Human Resources, Science and Technology at the AU Commission (@PROFSARAHAGBOR)

“We appreciate this partnership that we have with China. This partnership will help build the capacity of the public health sector in Africa” — The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (@AFRICACDC)

“Speaking on behalf of the African Union’s Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki, I thanked the Government of China for offering to construct the building & for their continuous support to the AU.” — Amira Elfadil, Commissioner of Social Affairs for the African Union (@AMIRADSA)

China, Ethiopia Together Outmaneuvered Critics and Rivals to Build the New Africa CDC HQ in Addis Ababa

Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony in Addis Ababa for the new Africa CDC headquarters marks a diplomatic triumph for both China and Ethiopia who together fought bitterly (and according to critics also unfairly,) to achieve this milestone.

The project was controversial from the start, with accusations that backers bypassed the African Union Commission’s procedures to decide where to house the new HQ. China’s role in the project, not surprisingly also prompted a fierce backlash from the United States, in particular.

“It’s a threat to Africa. Africa has vast amounts of genomic data and the Chinese want to build the CDC to eventually steal the data from all the other centers,” an unnamed Trump administration official told the Financial Times in February. If the Chinese build the headquarters, the US will have nothing to do with Africa CDC,” that source warned.

It’s not clear whether the U.S. will follow through on that threat and what its level of engagement is and will be with the Africa CDC.

Three Reasons Why Critics Were Not Happy That China’s Building the New CDC HQ in Ethiopia

IMPROPER PROCESS: “Diplomatic sources said they believed that the AUC’s apparent bypassing of proper procedures is a problem for many member states, including South Africa. But they are not sure if Pretoria or any other African states really want to pick a fight with China which has been generous in its donations to Africa of equipment to fight COVID-19.” (DAILY MAVERICK)

FEAR OF CHINESE SPYING: “It’s a threat to Africa. Africa has vast amounts of genomic data and the Chinese want to build the CDC to eventually steal the data from all the other centres,” an administration official told the Financial Times, referring to five regional Africa CDC hubs, some of which were built by the US. Based in Egypt, Nigeria, Gabon, Kenya and Zambia, they handle high-risk viruses, health crises, research and data collection.” (FINANCIAL TIMES)

LOCATION: “Some countries believe that Morocco, which is also bidding to host the [Africa CDC], is better equipped technically to support it than Ethiopia… both Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire have circulated diplomatic letters among African embassies to the African Union with alternative proposals offering to host the African CDC themselves.” (DAILY MAVERICK)

China refuted those allegations and took particular aim at the U.S. accusations that Beijing would use the opportunity to build the new Africa CDC to spy. “This is just as ridiculous as the recent allegations by the U.S. side that China is building the African Union conference center to steal their data,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on February 6th.

SUGGESTED READING:

Heritage Foundation: Government Buildings in Africa Are a Likely Vector for Chinese Spying by Joshua Meservey
Xinhua: China refutes U.S. official’s claims of China “stealing Africa’s genomic data”
Xinhua: Construction of China-aided Africa CDC HQ commences in Ethiopia
European Commission: European Union and African Union sign partnership to scale up preparedness for health emergencies

The post China, African Union Break Ground on New HQ For the Africa Centers for Disease Control appeared first on The China Africa Project.

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Rajpriya Gautam