Vast economic divergences and uneven development across the continent represent a major problem for African unity. Until this changes, the African Union is unlikely to reach its potential.

If questions about Sino-African relations could be reduced to their essence, these could be summarized as three main points. Firstly, China is not a unitary actor. Second, there is a degree of scapegoating of China and its alleged negative impacts upon Africa. Third, ultimately, it is up to African leaders to manage their relations with China to benefit their own economies and citizens.