China's top diplomat began his annual New Year tour of Africa on Sunday, maintaining a 35-year-long tradition, to quietly advance Beijing's already sizeable influence across the resource-rich continent as Europe's presence wanes and America's wavers.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began a week-long tour of African nations as Beijing seeks to bolster ties to the continent. Africa has become essential for China as the world’s second-largest economy ramps up investment in electric vehicles and green technology,

Senegal and Chad have reacted strongly to remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron about African countries being ungrateful over France's role in helping fight militant jihadist insurgencies. On Monday,

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the African Sahel states forgot to thank France for preventing their nations from falling under the control of militants. Macron stated that France had a relationship with its former colonies based on security.