0:04 In January 2026, a video just a few seconds long quickly spread across social media in Angola. In the footage, a young Angola man is seen arguing heily with a Chinese employer over a wage deduction of 5,000 Quanza, about 5.5 USD. Suddenly, the Chinese employer slaps the man. This took place at a car repair shop in a Chinese-run business center in Angola. The dispute reportedly started when the local employee accidentally damaged a part during work, leading to the wage deduction. The two sides were supposed to resolve the differences through communication, but it escalated into a physical confrontation. The video quickly became the center of public discussion in Angola, sparking
0:50 debates from the streets to online forums. Many saw it as the eruption of long-standing tensions in the labor relations between China and Angola, touching a sensitive nerve in the local community regarding foreign investors. On social media, users shared the video and commented with some condemning the colonial management style of the Chinese employer, while others called for stronger protection for workers rights. Local unions quickly stepped in, organizing small protests, demanding a thorough investigation and accountability. Reports say that the video was viewed millions of times in just a few days, and it even crossed borders to other African countries, raising questions about China's investment model in Africa. Angola's
1:36 complex racial and cultural diversity along with its history of Portuguese colonial rule has made the public particularly wary of foreign influence. Amidst the growing tension and goal as immigration enforcement actions intensified. Starting in late January 2026, immigration officers launched several crackdowns on illegal residents and undocumented workers. As a result, several Chinese citizens were detained and some even spent the Chinese New Year in detention. In response to the situation, the Chinese embassy in Angola issued a reminder in February 2026, warning that Angola's immigration authorities were continuing their crackdown on illegal immigration. A few Chinese citizens had already been
2:21 detained, fined, and deported for illegal stays, lacking work visas, or abusing their work permits. The embassy made it clear that visa free entry was only for tourism and could not be switched to a work visa. Such actions were considered illegal employment subject to local penalties and could also lead to restrictions on leaving China after returning. Angola, a source country in southwest Africa, has long maintained close economic ties with China. Since the early 2000s, China has become one of Angola's largest trade partners. The Belt and Road Initiative has driven several large projects such as road construction and port upgrades. Locals generally believe that Chinese companies in Angola exploit labor with low wages
3:08 and poor working conditions in construction projects, factories, and retail, which has built up long-standing resentment. On February 8th, the Criminal Investigation Service, SIC, in Angola's Malan Province arrested Huang Yunf, a 68-year-old Chinese national. He is accused of kidnapping and torturing a local employee in 2022. Huang Yunfun is the owner of Lucky Man Farm located in Angola's Milan Province, covering about nearly 500,000 acres and primarily involved in agriculture. It is considered one of the largest Chinese-owned farms in Africa. He was active on social media as an African farmer promoting a zero investment model. Investors paid a 1,000 R&B
3:56 deposit per 0.16 acres while the farm handled operations and shared the profits. According to Angola's criminal investigation service, in 2022, a 42-year-old Angolan security guard was accused of stealing fruit from the farm. When Huang Yunfen learned of this, he ordered workers to capture, beat, and kidnap the guard for interrogation on the farm. The victim was shoved into a sack and Juan personally injected an unknown substance into the victim with a syringe before ordering them to be thrown into a river. The workers, afraid, refused and ran away, allowing the victim to escape. The victim later reported the incident, but Huang Yunfun evaded capture at the time. Nearly 4
4:41 years later, Angola's authorities arrested him at the farm based on an arrest warrant from the prosecutor's office. Huang Yunf is now in the hands of judicial authorities facing charges of kidnapping, severe injury, and more. The victim suffered severe long-term effects, including the loss of smell and taste, skin infections, and paralysis of the lower limbs. And Gola's law could impose a 20 to 24year prison sentence for such serious crimes. Authorities emphasize that Africa is not a lawless land and all investors must respect local laws. The investigation is ongoing and the court's decision will determine the final outcome. In addition, the Angolan government previously shut down illegal
5:27 Chinese cryptocurrency mining operations and expelled related personnel, further fueling negative perceptions of Chinese people. In July 2025, Angolas experienced riots with countless people storming the streets, looting whatever they could, especially targeting Chinese owned businesses and stores. During the riots, widely circulated videos and social media footage showed hundreds of even thousands of people flooding into Chinese shops, smashing windows, breaking locks, and emptying shelves within seconds. Some even climbed over fences into the backyards of shops to steal large amounts of food and daily supplies. Reports indicated that at least 91 businesses were damaged with Chinese or Chinese linked retail chains being the
6:13 worst hit. Seven major Chinese chains brands were looted and 72 sales points under brands like AOA were specifically targeted. A more extreme incident occurred in the early hours of July 31st when six armed robbers attacked a Chinese company base. The robbers cut through the electric fence, climbed over the wall, and held over 10 local workers and three security guards hostage, forcing several Chinese citizens into a room and stealing their belongings. When rescue teams arrived and fired warning shots, the robbers fled. Fortunately, no Chinese citizens were harmed. The Chinese embassy in Angola issues security alerts for three consecutive days, urging the Chinese community to strengthen security, reduce outings, and assist some expatriots in evacuating.
7:00 After the riots calmed down, the situation gradually stabilized, but the impact was profound. More than 100 Chinese owned businesses were damaged or forced to close, and thousands of Chinese citizens chose to leave Angola. At least 5,000 people evacuated around August. Some analysts pointed out that the targeted looting of Chinese owned shops during the riots partly stems from resentment towards foreign exploitation. This targeted looting has exaggerated tensions in China and gola relations. Looking at the bigger picture, the incident reflects deeper challenges in China Africa cooperation. China's investment in Africa is massive. By the end of 2025, China's direct investment stock in Africa surpassed 50 billion USD with Angola being a key part.
7:47 With the advancement of the Belton Road Initiative, Chinese companies have become a significant source of foreign investment in many African countries. However, labor disputes have also been increasingly severe. Recently, another incident involving the assault of a local employee by a Chinese executive took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On February 23rd, vlogger Jang Xiao Yao, who works in Africa, posted a video on Doing saying, "Another violent assault overseas on February 19th in the Kasangulu area of central Congo, a Chinese supervisor at a quarry severely injured a local worker with an iron rod due to a work dispute. The victim suffered serious head injuries and was sent to the hospital.
8:32 This incident has sparked great outrage locally and caused significant public outcry. The Chinese national involved has been detained by Congalles security forces and the case is under further investigation. In recent years, similar incidents have occasionally occurred in African countries which really reminds our citizens that when abroad, local management is essential. Following local laws is a prerequisite, but more importantly, it's about respecting others and handling conflicts rationally. We must eliminate violent behavior. As a foreigner, the consequences of violence are unimaginable. However, no public reports have disclosed further details of this incident. In addition to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Ethiopia, a wild
9:18 cat strike in 2022 targeted Chinese companies over low wages and discrimination. workers took collective actions to demand better rights, which attracted widespread international attention. Ethiopia's manufacturing sector has long had low minimum wages with entrylevel salaries in the textile and garment industry only about 26 USD a month, far below countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, and even China's domestic standards. This has made it difficult for workers to cover basic living expenses with many left with almost nothing after paying for rent and food. Workers complain that Chinese management enforces strict performance reviews and penalties such as wage deductions for tardiness, damaged goods, or unmet quotas, which is seen as high pressure management. These grievances
10:05 accumulated into a breaking point. During several strikes in 2022, workers collectively demanded higher wages, improved safety conditions, and an end to punitive management practices and the right to union representation. These strikes mainly occurred in the manufacturing sector, particularly in textile and garment factories, many of which are funded or managed by Chinese capital and located in industrial zones. Ethiopia's 2022 wildcat strikes were not isolated incidents. In recent years, Chinese-owned mining operations in Africa have faced accusation of human rights violations and inadequate safety measures. This issue has become more prominent as China's investment in Africa's resources under the belt and road initiative has surged. The case of Zimbabwe is particularly typical. The
10:53 country's mining sector contributes over 12% of its GDP and Chinese mining companies have deeply rooted themselves in Zimbabwe, heavily involved in the extraction of the country's rich gold, coal, lithium, and other important mineral resources. However, China's expansion in the country has come at a significant cost to Zimbabwe. In November 2024, Voice of America reported on human rights violations by Chinese companies in Africa, drawing international attention. Some workers in Zimbabwe described their experiences of being threatened with guns as well as frequent verbal insults and abuse, which have intensified labor tensions. Workers accuse Chinese companies of harshly exploiting labor, including low wages, unsafe working conditions, and substandard housing. They also claimed
11:39 that mining activities have caused environmental damage. Specifically, some mining areas face extremely harsh label exploitation. The accusations include extremely low wages, long working hours, dehumanizing treatment, physical violence, and a complete disregard for basic health protections. Workers have also reported racial discrimination. Chinese managers often label local workers as lazy or unreliable leading to verbal insults and corporal punishment. Additionally, the column coal mine incident in Zambia is seen as one of the most extreme and controversial cases of labor relations involving Chinese enterprises in Africa. The incident occurred on October 15, 2010 at a Chinese-run coal mine in the Sin Zongwe
12:25 district of southern Zambia where labor protests escalated and Chinese managers fired guns at the workers, injuring at least 11 miners, several of whom were severely wounded. In 2012, the column mine erupted in another labor dispute, and the Zambian government temporarily revoked the mine's operating rights. It wasn't until 2015 that the rights were returned to the original Chinese operators. Zambian miners reported working 12 to 18 hour shifts, lacking respirators and earplugs, and facing threats for refusing dangerous task. These incidents are not limited to state-owned enterprises. Chinese private companies with backgrounds in mining have also been involved. In Namibia, Chinese mining companies are accused of
13:10 using shell companies to obtain small-scale licenses for large-scale mining operations, causing community displacement and environmental degradation. According to media reports, the expansion of Chinese mining companies in Africa began in the early 2000s when China's rapid economic growth caused a sharp rise in demand for raw materials. The African continent holds about 30% of the world's mineral resources, including cobalt, copper, and lithium, which are crucial for electric vehicle batteries and the new energy industry. Chinese companies quickly became major players in African mining through statebacked loans and direct investments. By 2024, Chinese investments in African mining had exceeded 50 billion USD, mainly focused in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
13:58 and South Africa. While this model has brought infrastructure development and job opportunities, it has also been accompanied by accusation of human rights violations. International organizations such as the Business and Human Rights Resource Center recorded 102 human rights and environmental violations related to Chinese mining operations between 2021 and 2022 with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for 11.7% and Zimbabwe for 6.9%. These accusations include unfair dismissals, forced overtime, lack of safety equipment, and environmental pollution causing health crisis in local communities. These incidents have promoted some African countries to reassess their cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party, demanding greater transparency and
14:45 social responsibility. After the pandemic, economic fluctuations exaggerated these tensions and rising unemployment and frequent protests. International media and non-governmental organizations have criticized China for its neoc colonialism. However, with China's economic slowdown, subtle changes are occurring in China Africa relations. For decades, Beijing has positioned itself as Africa's largest trade partner and the most active infrastructure financier. Railways in Kenya, ports in Tanzania, energy projects in subsahara and Africa, and militarized infrastructure around the continent have all been financed through billions of dollars in stateback loans. China's early model was to provide large statebacked loans for infrastructure
15:31 development. But this model carried political and financial risk. Some projects performed poorly and other countries struggled to repay the loans, becoming vassels of Beijing under increasing global scrutiny. On February 26th, columnist James Gory wrote in the Epoch Times that in certain sectors such as China's development of financial institutions, energy loans, investment levels have dropped by as much as 85% from their peak. This is not a small fluctuation but a strategic retreat. So what exactly is happening? Is China withdrawing from Africa or does the situation in Africa reveal deeper economic challenges for China itself? James suggests that the problem may not lie with Africa, but with China's domestic situation. It is well known that China's economy is under considerable pressure, including a long
16:17 slump in the real estate market, high local government debt, slowing GDP growth, and weak domestic consumption. When domestic funds are tied in China, securing approval for large overseas projects become more difficult, especially in politically complex or financially risky environments. According to research cited by Clean Air Task Force in Boston, China's financing for energy projects in Africa has decreased by about 85% since 2015, reflecting a sharp decline in capital investment. Another report from Boston University's Global Development Policy Center shows that China's loans to Africa have significantly decreased in recent years. Some reports predict that China's investment Africa will drop by nearly 46% in 2024 compared to the
17:03 previous year. Gori analyzed that Beijing seems to be shifting its approach, moving away from relying on large-scale sovereign infrastructure loans and instead focusing on more commercially viable projects and private sectorled foreign direct investment. Additionally, Beijing is now more inclined to expand trade rather than increase debt. He states that the Chinese Communist Party's global expansion ambition are now constrained by domestic economic realities. Balancing domestic economic vulnerabilities with excessive overseas expansion creates a dangerous combination.
