ANAMBRA STATE'S SOCIOECONOMIC DYNAMICS AMIDST CHINA'S GROWING PRESENCE IN AFRICA

Abstract

This paper examines the security implications of China's policy of unlimited presidential terms on Africa, with a focus on its impact on Anambra State's socioeconomic dynamics. It argues that Africa, including Anambra State, being a recipient of Chinese aid, goods, services, and military support, is increasingly dependent on China's policies and interests. Drawing on Marxist Economic Theory of Imperialism and Dependency Theory, the paper contends that this policy takes advantage of Africa's systemic and structural imbalances, leading to a neo-colonial condition that favors China's strategic interests in Africa. The all-pervading Chinese presence in Africa, coupled with its policy of unlimited presidential terms, acts as an instrument of imperialism, eroding Africa's strategic and economic foundations. This study recommends that African countries, including Anambra State, should develop and implement advanced security measures to mitigate the risks of continued Chinese dominance and its potential to exacerbate communal conflicts. It emphasizes that term limits in governance serve as essential checks on rulers and can bring about changes in government policies. As such, African nations must assert greater control over their destinies rather than succumbing to China's national interest-driven interventions.