China offers more military aid and training to Africa as it seeks to boost security ties

China has offered to provide more military aid and training to African countries as it seeks to strengthen its security contacts in the face of multiple challenges across the continent.

President Xi Jinping made the offer – which includes 1 billion yuan (US$140.5 million) in military aid and training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police officers – in a speech to mark the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit on Thursday.

Beijing will also invite 500 young military officers to China and take part in exercises and patrols with African counterparts, as well as helping to clear landmines – a major concern for some countries.

Details of the package and which countries will benefit have yet to be announced, but the commitment contained more detail than the pledge made during a previous summit in 2021, which included an offer to take part in security projects and joint anti-terrorism and peacekeeping training exercises.

However, unlike 2021, Xi did not mention efforts to control the spread of small arms.