East African economies have in the past 10 years borrowed $29.42
billion to grow their transport, communication, manufacturing and
energy sectors.
The region’s economies are now spending
almost eight per cent of their revenues to service these loans, which
analysts say are becoming a burden, especially given that their impact
is yet to be seen on the growth.
The latest data from
the China-Africa Research Initiative (Cari) at John Hopkins University
shows that Ethiopia owes Beijing $13.73 billion, followed by Kenya at
$9.8 billion. Uganda owes $2.96 billion and Tanzania $2.34 billion.
Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi owe China the least amounts — $289 million, $182 million and $99 million respectively.
Cari director Deborah Brautigam said that the risk for the African borrowers relates to the projects’ profitability.
“It
is always important to look at whether these projects will generate
enough economic activity to repay these loans, as opposed to being seen
as merely ribbon-cutting opportunities,” Ms Brautigam said.
Mega projects
The bulk of the monies, according to research by The EastAfrican, went into the transport sector, followed by power, communications and manufacturing.
Ethiopia's
biggest intake of the Beijing loans was in 2013, coinciding with the
launch of its joint standard gauge railway project with Djibouti.
Addis
took up more than $6.62 billion from Beijing for its mega projects,
which also included the setting up of manufacturing zones.
The data also shows Kenya’s new railways line accounted for the highest debt intake from Beijing at $3.7 billion in 2014.
China Exim Bank has been the go-to financier for the region’s governments, giving out more than $16.3 billion.
East Africa's debt to China ($ million)
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
0
Uganda
500
1,000
1,500
1,500
Ethiopia
46
Kenya
31
Uganda
0
Burundi
0
Rwanda
0
South Sudan
0
Tanzania
The China Development Bank advanced East African economies more
than $6.9 billion, while other Chinese lenders are currently owed $6.1
billion, data shows.
In terms of sector funding,
Ethiopia invested the bulk of its funds in the transport sector ($4.37
billion), which was used for both the Addis Ababa light railway project
and the Addis-Djibouti 700km railway. This was followed by
communications at $3.16 billion and power projects at $2.54 billion.
Its
manufacturing sector, which supports its fledging special industrial
zones, including the Eastern Industry Zone and Huajian International
Shoe City, received $2.02 billion.
“China gave priority
to infrastructure and has promoted Africa’s sustainable development
through these loans, which have been used for infrastructure
construction, energy and the manufacturing industry,” said Liu Qinghai, a
visiting researcher at Cari and head of the Centre for African Economic
Studies at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal
University.
Kenya’s transport sector took in $5.55 billion, largely driven by the new railway line from Mombasa to Naivasha.
Nairobi
also took a $597 million loan for its power projects, including the
$135 million for the 55 MW solar power plant in Garissa funded by the
China Exim Bank.
South Sudan has received $158 million for its transport sector to date, and a further $24 million for its energy projects.
South Sudan has received $158 million for its transport sector to date, and a further $24 million for its energy projects.
Tanzania's energy sector remains the top financed sector funded by Chinese money, at $1.16 billion.
Dar
es Salaam, which has not taken up any Chinese debt under President John
Magufuli, has received $552 million for its communications sector.
Uganda,
on the other hand, has seen its energy sector receive the highest
funding from Beijing, at $1.92 billion, while its transport sector has
absorbed $762 million.
Rwanda’s China debt for transport amounts to $151 million.
But
the region’s countries seem to have slowed down bingeing on Chinese
debt, with only Kenya and Ethiopia going to Beijing for loans.
Ethiopia
borrowed $652 million last year, down from $926 million in 2016, while
Kenya took $64 million, down from $1.09 billion in 2016.
In 2016, Kigali took $70 million and Kampala $85 million.
Debt roll over
Last
month, Ethiopia became the first country to get its Chinese debt rolled
over announcing that Beijing had agreed to restructure its $4 billion
loan on the railway linking its capital Addis with neighbouring
Djibouti.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said
that the country's loans will now receive a further 20-year extension,
which will see its annual repayments narrow to an affordable level.
“In conversations with our Chinese partners, we had the opportunity to enact limited restructuring of some of our loans.
“In
particular, the loan for the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, which was
meant to be paid over 10 years, has now been extended to 30 years. Its
maturity period has also been extended,” Dr Abiy said.
Kenya
also sought to get a grant as part of the package for its $3.8 billion
loan for its continuing railway projects, as it seeks to manage its debt
burden.
“The Naivasha-Kisumu phase of the SGR will
cost $3.8 billion. And owing to its regional significance, I would
request that 50 per cent of its cost be provided as part of grant
financing,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the Forum on China-Africa
Co-operation in Beijing in August. This request was not granted.
Tim
Jones, an economist at the Jubilee Debt Campaign, said that the
continent debt problem could worsen, especially given the opaque nature
in which they are signed.
“Debt problems are worsening
and many lenders bear responsibility, not just China. We need new rules
to make all lenders publicly disclose loans to governments at the time
they are given. We also need to see these lenders made to restructure
and reduce debts,” Mr Jones said.
Burden
Last
month, China’ s special envoy to Africa, Xu Jinghu, denied claims that
Beijing was burdening Africa with debt, noting that China was Africa’s
main creditor.
Indeed, data shows that the continent owes more to private lenders than to China.
“It
is baseless to shift the blame onto China for these African countries
debt problems. Their debt position has ‘been built over time even before
we came in.
“We have to look at the fluctuations in
the international economic situation vis-a-vis the price of minerals,
their key exports. This is where the problem is, and not Chinese loans,”
Mr Xu said.
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