While China is offering financial incentives to many African countries in exchange for access to vital resources—Africa’s abundant raw materials— Somalia’s fractured state makes it an exception.

Somalia continues to face threats from the terrorist group al-Shabaab, combined with internal corruption and long-standing clan rivalries that have crippled its governance and development for over three decades.

China’s recent gesture of a 200 million yuan ($28 million) grant to Somalia, although significant, pales in comparison to the assistance provided by the West, especially the United States.

USAID alone allocated over $150 million to Somalia in 2021, with a total of $1.7 billion in humanitarian aid since 2022 to address critical issues like drought and floods.

Criticism of China’s diminishing interest in Somalia has circulated on Somali social media.

Opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur reminded people that China once had Africa’s largest embassy in Mogadishu in the 1960s, but today, the lack of interest is clear.

"But who is to blame? Is it on our side?” he questions.

Some, like social media commentator Jibril Qoobey, argue that China’s aid is minimal compared to Western support.

"USAID alone gave over $150 million in aid to Somalis. Compare that to $28 million. It is nothing. All in all, there is no comparison between the West’s support and the Chinese,” he added.

Journalist Ali Mohamud raised concerns about China’s lending practices, warning that Chinese loans often result in African countries losing control of key infrastructure when debts cannot be repaid.

"That is exactly what China is doing to many African countries. It is like ransom—where you indebt someone and wait until they become broke,” he added.

At the summit, China’s goals are clear: further industrialization, agricultural cooperation, and security partnerships under its Belt and Road initiative.

However, the disparity between Western aid and China’s support to countries like Somalia continues to fuel debate about the true impact of these partnerships.

As Somalia struggles to stabilize, the question remains: Who is responsible for Somalia’s weakened position in international relations? Some believe the blame lies within, while others point to global powers’ shifting interests.

- Horn Observer/Kaab TV -