@dazaliam
I Dont see enough evidence that Ganfeng was duplicitous in its relationship with Leo
Mali government wants China to play a leading role in Mali's military supply /training capacities ...and infrastructure ( electricity. railway, hospitals , roads, government building...you name it) as per my previous posts
At the 14 min mark Wang talks of intention to build out electricity infrastructure ... and electrification truck fleet to service coastal shipping ports.
It's probable they will build several battery manufacturing hubs in Africa.
Africa population approx same as Chinas 1.5B people.
The uptake of mobile phone was exponential in Kenya for example...and they had the worlds most advanced mobile to mobile payment system 'MPESA' before rest world caught up. It was out of necessity . Banks branches were few and staff stole from accounts, but tiny stalls would become ubiquitous through out the country and many exchanged as cash ,,or mobile to mobile transfer deposits. Banks were circumvented.
The electricity was continually blacking out bcoz over head copper lines were stolen and/or the hydro plant lacked water catchment thanks to unregulated deforestation to make charcoal to cook with.
Likewise phone lines went down with the pilfering of copper lines - building out the mobile phone infrastructure was a no brainer and Safaricom became Kenya's biggest company and pride and joy.
Am certain China will build out Africas infrastructure as its already started to do... they have the will - long term view, capacity and capability.
Mali will want all of that and only China can do it for them.
Its a pity that Mali govt decided to manoeuvre LEO out of the picture ,,,but it was in their best interest to do that.
It is what it is.
In the other countries they had to more directly divest... here in Mali, it was a less direct divestment of western interest.
Thats the world of putting national interest above all else. Just not being nice being on the receiving end of it.
Suck it up, accept reality, and be grateful we got out with shirts on out back thanks to Simon and Rick specifically.
(20min delay)