Author: Riaan Meyer, Abiodun Alao, Chris Alden, Ana Cristina Alves.

This paper unpacks the interplay among gradualist institutional evolution within China’s financial sector, the domestic economic drivers within China itself, Africa’s own complex financial terrain and the far-reaching changes to the global economy as a basis for understanding the impact of Chinese finance on the continent. Case studies of South Africa, Nigeria and Mozambique highlight the distinctive response of Chinese banks to differing African financial environments and are strongly suggestive of future strategies employed by Chinese financial actors operating on the continent.