Foreign aid, China’s aid and Africa’s Development: Interrogating the Dynamics

The distinctiveness of aid to economic growth and development of developing countries has stirred up discussions over the years. The conventional arguments have sought to evince both optimistic and pessimistic views about aid to development in Africa while at the same time studies are copiously emerging around Chinese aid to Africa's development within the broader China-Africa engagements. This article interrogates the dynamics surrounding the subject to examine foreign aid, China's aid practice toward Africa and the possible implications for Africa's development. Probing into the general perspective in literature and other primary sources, the study submits that China's active aid practice has heightened the uncertainties around foreign aid to Africa's development. Notwithstanding the verity of China's aid policies and principles being germane to Africa's development, the practical implementation maintains certain attributes that provoke divided thoughts. Hence, the requisite platform of action should be bolstered to consider both the Chinese interests and the African needs for a well-balanced development in the acclaimed South-South cooperation partnership.