Delegates gather at the IPAC Summit 2024 in Rwanda, discussing regional political issues and strengthening international cooperation.
China is ramping up diplomatic pressure on African lawmakers to abandon the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a global group critical of Beijing’s human rights record. Lawmakers from Malawi and The Gambia withdrew from the alliance after Chinese diplomats threatened to cancel bilateral summits and pressured top government officials. Though some politicians deny coercion, IPAC shared recordings and letters that suggest otherwise. Experts say the tactic marks an unusual shift, as China historically avoided overt interference in African politics. With the US retreating from the continent, observers fear China may intensify such tactics to grow its influence. Meanwhile, critics warn that Beijing’s pressure undermines democratic freedoms and expands authoritarian leverage in Africa.
